PRIME MINISTER

Clyde Naval Base

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit HM Naval Base Clyde in order to assess its contribution to UK defence capabilities.

David Cameron: Government Ministers have made a number of visits to Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, the latest made by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 14 June 2012. As the largest military establishment in Scotland, the Naval Base makes a valuable contribution towards UK defence capabilities.

Low Associates

Diane Abbott: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has held discussions with the Secretary for State for Health about any potential conflict of interest arising from the Secretary of State's connection with Low Associates.

David Cameron: As set out in section 7 of the Ministerial Code, on appointment to each new office, Ministers must provide their permanent secretary with a full list in writing of all interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), declared his wife's involvement with Low Associates to his permanent secretary and to the Cabinet Office and there is no conflict of interests with his ministerial duties. His wife's role is included in the List of Ministerial Interests published by the Cabinet Office.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Alternative Vote

Simon Hart: To ask the honourable Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the costs were of the national referendum on the alternative vote, broken down by category of spend.

Gary Streeter: The final cost of the UK referendum on the parliamentary voting system will be published in a report by the Electoral Commission in the autumn, once all the claims from counting officers and regional counting officers have been agreed and processed.
	As of 7 June 2012, 376 of the 451 claims received from counting officers and regional counting officers for their services and expenses in respect of the referendum had been settled.
	On the basis of the information received so far the total cost is expected to be £75,055,000. This can be broken down into the following categories, but does not include any costs incurred directly by local authorities or other organisations:
	
		
			 Category Costs (£) 
			 Settled fee and expense payments to counting officers 50,130,000 
			 Outstanding fee and expense payments to counting officers 8,214,000 
			 Campaign mailings by the designated campaigns 8,530,000 
			 Electoral Commission activities 7,912,000 
			 Royal Mail sweep for postal votes on election day 269,000 
			 Total 75,055,000 
		
	
	The cost of the Commission's own activities was £7,912,000. This includes the cost of fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and making grants of public money to the designated organisations appointed as lead campaigners for each of the referendum outcomes.
	The Commission's autumn report will also analyse the overall costs of the referendum, including the costs charged by counting officers and regional counting officers, and review in detail the current fees and charges framework. Referendum spend will also be reported as part of the Commission annual accounts for 2011-12 which are currently being prepared.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes there were at the end of each year from 1979 to 1997.

Grant Shapps: holding answer 18 June 2012
	Estimates of stock by tenure are given in Live Table 104 on the Department's website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
	Figures on total affordable housing stock are not available, as some affordable housing schemes (shared equity, shared ownership) are classified as owner occupied housing.
	The figures do show that between 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2010, there was a net decrease in social rented stock of 421,000 units.

Affordable Housing

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the net change in the total number of affordable housing dwellings in England, including demolitions, between 1997-98 and 2009-10.

Grant Shapps: Estimates of stock by tenure are given in Live Table 104 on my Department's website.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
	Figures on total affordable housing stock are not available, as some affordable housing schemes (shared equity, shared ownership) are classified as owner occupied housing,
	The figures do show that between 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2010, there was a net decrease in social rented stock of 421,000 units.

Non-domestic Rates

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of revenue from business rates in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13 in each local authority area; and if he will compare such figures with those used in the calculation of the distributable amount for 2012-13.

Bob Neill: Information on non-domestic rate income in England is provided by local authorities annually on the National Non-domestic Rates (NNDR) 1 form which is submitted to DCLG every February. These figures use national assumptions on the amount of revenue that authorities will be unable to collect and allowances to mitigate the historical differences between national non-domestic rates' budget estimates and outturn figures. The Department does not make separate estimates at local authority level.
	Information from these returns, at local authority level, is published on the DCLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1910477.xls
	for 2011-12 and at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/2150903.xls
	for 2012-13.
	Figures on the estimated total contribution to the non-domestic rates pool from the Distributable Amount calculations and from the local authority NNDRl returns are set out in the following table. The figures relate to the local list only: i.e. non-domestic rates collected by the 326 billing authorities in England. The Distributable Amount is not available at local authority level and Outturn data for 2011-12 are not yet available.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Distributable amount calculation NNDR1 Difference 
			 2011-12 20,220 20,287 +87 
			 2012-13 21,556 21,329 -227 
		
	
	The contribution to the pool derived from the Distributable Amount calculation for 2011-12 is different from that published on the DCLG website as it has been adjusted to reflect the change in methodology used to produce the Distributable Amount for 2012-13.
	In relation to the implications for the business rates system for 2013-14 onwards, I note that as outlined in my answer to the hon. Member of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 18W, our proposals for local business rate retention will ensure a fair starting point, so that no local authority is worse off at the outset of the scheme as a result of their business rates base. We are also ensuring there is protection for councils across the country, including a safety net for places in need of additional support.

Private Rented Housing

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his recommended measure is of private-sector rent levels. [R]

Grant Shapps: A number of measures exist, differing in terms of method, coverage and frequency.
	Official statistics include (a) Valuation Office Agency figures and (b) the English Housing Survey.

Procurement

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts issued by (i) his Department and (ii) bodies for which he is responsible which were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: My Department's spend with small and medium-sized enterprises has been reported in the Cabinet Office report, “Making Government business more accessible to SMEs-One Year On”, which is available online at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/making-government-business-more-accessible-smes-one-year
	Spending over £500 is published on my Department's website, which includes data on the size of the firm.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Roads

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the number of animals killed on the roads (a) where roads cross lines of animal migration and (b) in other cases.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), is responsible for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England. The Highways Agency improves, manages, and maintains the network on her behalf. Local highway authorities are responsible for deciding what arrangements are put in place for their local road network.
	The Agency seeks to reduce the potential for animal fatalities by avoiding collisions or reducing their impact. This approach is taken where roads cross lines of animal migration and in all other instances.
	The Highways Agency carries outwork to assess and mitigate the impact of the operation, maintenance and improvement of the SRN on wildlife patterns of movement. Mitigation includes encouraging animal crossings via tunnels, adapted farm crossings and underpasses. Such measures reduce the risk of animals being killed or injured on the network. Appropriate fencing and planting are also established to promote safe crossing points and direct animals away from the carriageway.
	The Agency also undertakes research to better understand the effectiveness of such mitigation measures, in order to minimise the number of animal fatalities on the SRN and therefore reduce their impact. Further advice is published in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges available online at
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/index.htm

Batteries: Recycling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many household batteries are recycled every year; and what assessment she has made of the effect on the environment of such recycling.

Richard Benyon: Provisional data published by the Environment Agency in April showed that in 2011 the UK recycled around 7,900 tonnes of portable batteries, equivalent to a collection rate of 17.8%.
	The Government published an impact assessment of the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 which identified that recycling batteries benefits the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing the need to extract materials for primary battery production and ensuring that batteries are properly treated and do not end up in landfill where they can leak hazardous chemicals into the ground.
	It is estimated that the amount of portable batteries recycled in 2011 has saved between 1,560 and 1,950 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent gases from being emitted into Earth's atmosphere.

Floods

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the overall cost to the economy of flooding in April and May 2012;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the overall cost to the economy of the flooding in June 2012.

Richard Benyon: The Department has not made an estimate of the overall cost to the economy for the localised flooding incidents in April, May and June 2012.

Floods: Housing

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes were (a) at risk of flooding and (b) flooded in June 2012.

Richard Benyon: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Environment Agency's latest published information estimates that there are 5 million properties at risk of flooding in England, of which 2.4 million are at risk from rivers and the sea.
	The Environment Agency estimates that around 16,400 properties were protected from flooding from rivers so far this month.
	(b) The Environment Agency's records show that 23 properties have flooded from rivers in England so far this month. The Department has been notified that 360 properties were flooded from other sources, such as surface water and small watercourses. Both these provisional figures include homes, mobile homes and commercial and industrial property.

Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff working for her Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are employed through off-payroll engagements costing less than £58,200 per annum; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sharks: Conservation

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the sale of shark fin soup.

Richard Benyon: The UK Government are aware of the conservation implications of the international trade in shark fins and the need for more stringent controls to ensure any such trade is rooted in sustainable fishing practices. While the UK opposes, and has banned, wasteful finning (removal and retention of shark fins at sea, but discarding the carcass), the Government does not oppose fisheries for species where scientific advice indicates that they can be sustainably exploited, but promotes full utilisation of the shark.
	The UK cannot unilaterally take action to ban shark fin soup without contravening EU trade agreements and World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations.
	However, we are not complacent. We believe the market for shark fin products in the UK is on the decrease and we will continue to support campaigns like ‘Bite-Back’ that raise public awareness and change consumer and retailer behaviour.
	We will also continue to work closely with the Shark Trust to ensure sharks are properly managed and conserved globally: We consider that the most effective means of protecting sharks is by continuing to press for a range of international conservation and management measures within the appropriate bodies. This includes pushing for changes within the EU and internationally to ensure all sharks are landed with their ‘fins naturally attached’ (thus removing the possibility of shark finning occurring) and supporting scientifically robust proposals for regulating the international trade in shark products through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

JUSTICE

Community Orders: Reoffenders

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely effect of community penalties on future reoffending rates.

Crispin Blunt: The proven reoffending rate for adults starting community orders in the 12 months ending June 2010 is 35.3%. For community orders, proven reoffending is when an offender commits an offence and receives a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up period. Following this one year period, a further six months is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.
	The Ministry of Justice has published a consultation “Punishment and reform: effective community sentences” which sets out a number of proposals to reform community sentences so that they are effective at both punishing and rehabilitating offenders.
	As set out in the impact assessment, the consultation asks respondents for their views on how these proposals could work and the MOJ will assess the impacts when the final proposal is developed.
	The impact assessment that the MOJ published alongside the consultation can be found on the following webpage:
	https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/effective-community-services-1

Data Protection: EU Action

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department plans to publish its response to the EC Data Protection Proposals published on 25 January 2012.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice ran a call for evidence on the European Commission's data protection proposals between 7 February and 6 March this year. I plan to publish a summary of responses to this call for evidence before the summer recess.

Electronic Tagging

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether probation trusts will be allowed to compete for the electronic monitoring of offenders in the future.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice is currently undertaking a competition for new electronic monitoring contracts. This competition invited bids from any provider who could demonstrate that they meet the required standards. A shortlist of bidders has now been selected to move to the next stage of negotiations, with the new contracts scheduled to be awarded early in 2013. A similar open approach to potential bidders is anticipated for any future competitions for electronic monitoring.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has (a) made and (b) published of the effectiveness of EU Council Framework Decision 2009/299/JHA in improving mutual recognition of judicial decisions between EU Member States.

Kenneth Clarke: To date, the Government have neither made nor published any assessment of the effectiveness of EU Framework Decision 2009/299/JHA in improving mutual recognition of judicial decisions between member states. The UK must decide, no later than 31 May 2014, whether to accept full European Court of Justice jurisdiction over those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted before 1 December 2009 which have not been amended or replaced. This measure falls within the scope of that decision and will be reviewed accordingly.

Intelligence and Security Committee

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to clause 2 of the Justice and Security Bill [Lords], if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding setting out the intelligence and security matters that the Intelligence and Security Committee may examine or otherwise oversee in time for Second Reading of the Bill in the Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: The memorandum of understanding (MOU) needs to be agreed between the Intelligence and Security Committee and the Prime Minister. We are starting this process of drafting and agreeing this document, and will do so in parallel with the Bill's passage through Parliament. Once we have an agreed draft of the MOU, it is our intention that it will be published, to help inform debate. We cannot commit to produce a first draft in time for Lords Committee stage but we will present one to Parliament as soon as possible.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 5 April 2012 regarding a constituent, Mr Williamson.

Jonathan Djanogly: A reply has now been sent to the hon. Member. I apologise for the delay.

National Offender Management Service

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  on how many occasions an employee working for a probation trust or area has applied for and been given a post in the National Offender Management Service in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people from a probation trust or area applied for and were given a (a) permanent and (b) seconded post in the National Offender Management Service in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: This information is not available.
	NOMS does not maintain central records of the previous employers of its employed staff and there are no plans to change this arrangement which would be costly.
	There are currently no processes for recording secondments to NOMS by probation staff and no data are available on the numbers and employers of secondees in the past five years. This position is currently being rectified. At present there are 25 secondees from probation trusts working in NOMS Headquarters. Probation staff are deployed to work in prisons and young offender institutions.

National Offender Management Service

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the National Offender Management Service has published advertisements inviting people from probation areas or trust to apply for permanent or seconded posts in the National Offender Management Service in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Records and details of past recruitment advertisement campaigns are held centrally, but the specific information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. Where we are specifically seeking applications from colleagues working in probation areas or trust, adverts are place on the Electronic Probation Information Centre (EPIC).

National Offender Management Service

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions people working in the National Offender Management Service who were seconded from the probation service have transferred directly into the civil service in each of the last five years; and what the titles are of each of their posts.

Crispin Blunt: Records detailing secondments into NOMS covering the past five years are not held centrally. However, NOMS is aware of one occasion within this period, on which it sought the permission of the Civil Service Commission to offer direct employment as civil servants to probation service employees who had been seconded to NOMS. The posts concerned were for Commissioning Managers in Regional Offender Managers' offices. IT specialists and four specific knowledge specialists whose departure would have undermined critical business continuity at the time. The posts were converted between 2007 and 2009.

National Offender Management Service

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what criteria are applied by the National Offender Management Service when seeking to transfer a seconded probation member of staff to the civil service;
	(2)  what arrangements govern the transfer process involving probation secondees entering the civil service; and what consultation on the process occurs with relevant organisations including the Probation Chiefs' Association and trade unions.

Crispin Blunt: When filling permanent, employed posts externally, NOMS normally seeks to do so only through open competition. It therefore has no set criteria to determine when a secondee to NOMS should be made an employee without use of open competition. Such a measure would be very exceptional, and would be based on a judgment made at the time, relating to the particular circumstances of the case.
	Neither, therefore, does NOMS have a developed procedure to follow in effecting such an appointment—other than that it would seek the permission of the Civil Service Commission before doing so, as required by the Commission's Recruitment Principles, and consult the individual and his or her employer.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders released on licence absconded after breaching their licence conditions in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: From 1 April 2009 to 31 December 2011 a total of 43,041 offenders were recalled for breaching the terms of their licence. By 31 March 2012 42,605 had been returned to custody and 436 had not yet been returned to custody. This data is taken from Table 5.1 of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/oms-quarterly
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Eating Disorders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the proportion of prisoners that have dietary disorders; and if he will conduct an analysis of the incidence of such disorders among prisoners in comparison to the general population.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold central information on the proportion of prisoners that have a dietary disorder. Providing this information could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.
	Currently there are no plans to carry out analysis of dietary disorders among prisoners.
	The policy on meals for all prisoners is maintained and developed by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Minimum specification and requirement relating to meals for prisoners is contained within a prison service instruction (PSI 44/2010) and its supporting operating guidance manual; it is applicable to all prisons.
	NOMS has adopted and incorporated specific Government guidance issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and Food Standards Agency on eating a healthy diet. These initiatives are based on the recommendations from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
	Prisoners who have a medical condition must consult an establishment health care professional who will prescribe treatment including any specific dietary requirements. The catering departments in establishments are notified of any medical diets along with advice on how to meet any additional need.

Probation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice by what mechanism introducing competitive tendering for the supervision of low-risk offenders will result in greater effectiveness.

Crispin Blunt: On 27 March the Ministry of Justice published proposals to reform probation services to better punish and reform offenders and protect the public. We are seeking to extend competition in probation services, including to the supervision of lower risk offenders, to deliver more effective and efficient services.
	We are consulting on the key issues in competing on the management of offenders and on where we should strike the balance in deciding how far to compete on offender management. The consultation closes on 22 June and we encourage a wide range of responses.

Probation

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average duration was for which an offender managed under (a) level 2 and (b) level 3 multi-agency public protection arrangements remained at that level before being transferred to level 1 in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many offenders are managed under (a) level 1, (b) level 2 and (c) level 3 multi-agency public protection arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Data on the average duration for which offenders are managed under (a) level 2 and (b) level 3 multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) remained at that level before being transferred to level 1 are not recorded centrally. These data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The annual MAPPA report was published on the Ministry of Justice website on 27 October 2011 at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/mappa
	The number of offenders on 31 March 2011, managed at each level is shown in the table:
	
		
			 MAPPA management level Offenders 
			 1 48,650 
			 2 2.649 
			 3 190

Procurement

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts issued by (i) his Department and (ii) bodies for which he is responsible which were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has issued 570 contracts to small and medium enterprises from 1 April 2011 to 10 June 2012. The total value of the contracts issued is £506.7 million.
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) does not hold contracts issued by its agencies centrally. This Information can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to the Department, by a number of staff manually contacting and reviewing each agency.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what estimate he has made of the saving to those affected in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: Between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012, the Ministry of Justice had laid no statutory instruments which had a regulatory impact.

Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect of having local victim and witness services organised and funded through police and crime commissioners;
	(2)  what evidence his Department used in developing its plan to regionalise Victim Support's national infrastructure;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the change in the level of costs for Victim Support as a result of the proposed restructuring;
	(4)  what meetings he has held with Victim Support and other organisations in developing the proposal that victim support should be controlled by police and crime commissioners.

Crispin Blunt: In the consultation document ‘Getting it right for Victims and Witnesses’ we set out our proposals for the commissioning of support services for victims and witnesses of crime. We proposed a mixed model in which some services would be commissioned at national level but the bulk would be commissioned at local level, the latter to be the responsibility of police and crime commissioners. Our proposals took account of input from organisations which support or represent victims and witnesses, including Victim Support.
	I met with the chief executive of Victim Support on 14 May to discuss this and other issues.
	The consultation closed on 22 April. We are considering the many points made by respondents and will publish a Government response to the consultation soon. When we do, we will also publish revised versions of the impact assessments and equality impact assessments which accompanied the launch of the consultation in January.

Young Offender Institutions

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of imprisoning a young offender in the latest year for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The average price per place, for the different sectors of the children and young people's secure estate as of 1 April 2012, are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Average cost per place 2012-13 (£)(1) 
			 Secure children’s home 212,000 
			 Secure training centre 178,000 
			 Under 18 young offender institution 60,000 
			 (1) To the nearest £000 
		
	
	These figures are based upon the prices that the Youth Justice Board pays for those services it commissions in young people' secure custodial facilities as at 1 April 2012. They are not intended to represent the total price of providing custody and related services to young people. They do not include VAT where it is applicable.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of theatres and arts venues that ceased trading in the Greater London area in 2011.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has made no such assessment. Arts Council England (ACE) invests in arts in England and makes funding decisions independently of Government. ACE is aware of examples of venue closures; however, comprehensive lists of closures are not currently collated.

Arts: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of music venues that have ceased trading in the Greater London area in 2011. [R]

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made no such assessment. However, the Government wants to see live music thrive and has honoured its Programme for Government pledge to remove red tape affecting live music by supporting the Live Music Act 2012. This Act will remove costs and bureaucracy for live music performers and venues and will come into force this autumn in England and Wales.
	Arts Council England has informed DCMS that the following three music venues ceased trading and remained closed in Greater London in 2011:
	The Luminaire (closed 31 December 2010)
	The West End of London Barfly
	The Cock Tavern Theatre

Arts: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) theatres, (b) arts venues and (c) music venues that have ceased trading in the North East in 2011.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has made no such assessment. Arts Council England (ACE) invests in arts in England and makes funding decisions independently of Government. ACE is aware of examples of venue closures; however, comprehensive lists of closures are not currently collated.

Film and Television

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the contribution to the economy of foreign exchange earnings from the UK film and television industry.

Edward Vaizey: Information on total foreign exchange earnings is not available. However, the annual Department for Culture, Media and Sport Creative Industries Economic Estimates publication includes figures for the total exports of services for different creative industries sectors. In 2009, exports of services were estimated to be £2.1 billion for the TV and radio sector and £1.6 billion for film, video and photography.

Mobile Phones

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with those responsible for establishing the 4G mobile network in the South West on the potential risk of interference to existing Freeview television users. [R]

Edward Vaizey: I have had no specific discussions with mobile operators with regard to 4G networks in the south-west.
	However, the potential risk of interference is not specific to the south-west and could occur anywhere in the UK. Mobile operators will be required to take measures to manage the risk of interference wherever it occurs, and will need to meet the same standards of service throughout the UK.
	On 21 February 2012 the Government announced a £180 million scheme to fund solutions to the potential problem of interference caused to TV reception by the new mobile services to be offered in the 800 MHz spectrum.
	A single implementation body (referred to as ‘MitCo’) will be set up to manage the delivery of this scheme and provide support to Freeview consumers. This will be owned by the new 800 MHz licensees and the £180 million funding will come from them. Government will bear the risk of any overspend and there will be a 50:50 gain share of any underspend between new licensees and Government when MitCo is closed down.
	Ofcom took account of this scheme in its second consultation on coexistence issues between television services and mobile services in the 800 MHz band published on 23 February 2012.

Mobile Phones

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government on the harmonisation of mobile roaming charges between the UK and Ireland.

Edward Vaizey: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive or the Irish Government, on harmonising mobile roaming charges.
	The issue is one that is recognised by operators in Northern Ireland and the Republic and certain operators have taken measures to reduce the impact on consumers of roaming charges, for example by introducing an “All Ireland” tariff. Under the new European Roaming III Regulation, which comes into effect on 1 July 2012, prices charged for roaming will decrease, dropping to rates much closer to domestic tariffs.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary was paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13. [Official Report, 4 July 2012, Vol. 547, c. 9MC.]

Edward Vaizey: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Highest Lowest Lowest FTE Median Median FTE 
			 2010-11 228,883 19,436 6,827 34,498 33,034 
			 2011-12 228,883 19,836 3,901 35,481 34,729 
			 2012-13 228,883 19,836 3,901 35,582 34,769 
		
	
	The highest salary was paid to the director general in the Government Olympic Executive. Their remuneration details are published annually in the Department's Annual Reports and Accounts. This information is also disclosed on the Department's transparency website.
	We do not hold this information for our arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to respond to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sports Nutrition

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential effect on (a) sports and (b) the London 2012 Olympics of the proposals to charge VAT on sports nutrition products.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), meets regularly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), to discuss a wide range of issues, but this issue has not been raised.

SCOTLAND

Scottish Independence

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Scottish representation on the Monetary Policy Committee in the event of Scottish independence.

Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on a wide range of issues. It is for the Scottish Government to answer questions relating to what independence would mean when it comes to such important issues, such as the question of currency and the role of the Bank of England.

Scottish Government: Tax Raising Power

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the transfer of tax raising power to the Scottish Government as part of the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012.

Michael Moore: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues. The Joint Exchequer Committee which oversees the implementation of the finance provisions of the Act met on 18 June and both the UK Government and the Scottish Government are committed to the successful implementation of the Scotland Act 2012.

Cost of Living

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to lower the cost of living in Scotland.

David Mundell: The actions we have taken to reduce the deficit and rebuild the economy have secured stability and positioned the UK as a relative safe haven, with interest rates near record lows, benefiting businesses and families.

Scottish Agricultural Industry

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on the agricultural industry in Scotland of recent progress on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

David Mundell: CAP reform is of great significance to the agricultural industry in Scotland. I support the efforts of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), to push for a settlement that takes account of the range of interests right across the UK.
	I will have the opportunity to discuss this with Scottish farmers and producers tomorrow at the Royal Highland Show.

TRANSPORT

Atos

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the total monetary value is of each contract between her Department and Atos;
	(2)  when each contract between her Department and Atos was most recently (a) agreed, (b) renewed and (c) extended.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport currently has four contracts with Atos. Details of these are listed below.
	
		
			 Department BU Title and Purpose Start date End date Estimated let Value Comments 
			 DFT(c) Transport Direct 16/01/2003 31/03/2006 £66,000,000 Note: the Department received a financial contribution from the ODA towards the development of the Olympics Spectator Journey Planner during this period, which was developed as part of TD's contract with Atos. 
			  Extension 1 01/04/2006 31/03/2007   
			  Extension 2 01/04/2007 31/03/2009   
			  Extension 3 01/04/2009 31/03/2011   
			  Extension 4 01/04/2011 31/03/2013   
			       
			 HA ICT Services 01/05/2011 11/12/2012 £33,000,000 The Highways Agency has one current contract with Atos for ICT Services. The total monetary value is estimated at £33M for the period 1 May 2011 to 11 Dec 2012. 
			       
			 VOSA ICT Managed Services (IS2003) 01/01/2003 31/12/2011 £100,000,000 ICT Managed Services (IS2003) which was signed in 2002, with service commencement in January 2003, for an initial period of 9 years with two further extension options of 3 years each. 
			  Extension 01/01/2012 01/04/2014  The ICT Managed Services (IS2003) contract was extended in line with the first three year extension option in April 2010 taking the duration to December 2014, from the initial term expiry of December 2011. 
			       
			  MOT Computerisation (MOTC) 01/01/2005 30/09/2015 In the Region of £230m over the ten years of the contract This is a PFI contract for the MOT Computerisation (IVIOTC) solution signed in 2000, with contractual service commencement in January 2005, originally with Siemens IT Solutions and Services Ltd (at that time known as Siemens Business Services Ltd) who were subsequently acquired by Atos SA in February 2011.

Biofuels

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on proposals from the European Commission to increase the ratio of biofuels.

Norman Baker: The Renewable Energy Directive agreed by Member States in 2008, set a target for the UK to source 10 per cent of energy used in transport from renewable sources by 2020.
	The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation implements the Directive by setting targets to increase the use of renewable fuels in UK road transport with the aim of reducing carbon emissions. It places an obligation on fuel suppliers to ensure that a certain proportion of fuel supplied is biofuel (4.5% in 2012/13 rising to 5% from 2013/14 onwards).
	Genuinely sustainable biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change, but it is crucial that this sustainability is assured and genuine greenhouse gas savings realised. Urgent action is needed to address indirect land use change in the Renewable Energy Directive and we have called on the European Commission to come forward with a proposal as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we amended the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation in December 2011 to ensure that biofuels supplied meet the mandatory sustainability requirements set out in the Directive.

Coastal Areas

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress her Department has made with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the coastal risk assessments required by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Michael Penning: Each year central Government, through the Cabinet Office, issue National Risk Assessment Guidelines. These contain six maritime risks relating to fire, flooding, collisions, sinking and stranding of vessels and release of polluting and hazardous materials from vessels or off-shore installations. As a national organisation, Her Majesty's Coastguard has produced a National Risk Assessment to address the six maritime risks. This is published in each Community Risk Register and is up-dated every two to three years, or when a major incident may affect the likelihood or impact scoring.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 53W, on aviation, if she will publish her Department's analysis on whether air services at Heathrow adequately serve important countries for UK exports.

Theresa Villiers: London is currently one of the best connected cities in the world. In 2011 there were more scheduled flights from Heathrow to both India (over 5,500 scheduled flights) and China (over 4,500 scheduled flights when Hong Kong is included) than any of its continental rivals. There were also over 1,000 scheduled flights from Heathrow to Brazil. New direct routes are opening up from London to the emerging economies including Heathrow to Guangzhou (China Southern Airways, June 2012) and Gatwick to Beijing (Air China, May 2012). We intend to consult later in the summer on a draft sustainable framework for UK aviation. Alongside this we intend to publish a call for evidence on maintaining the UK's international aviation connectivity, which we expect will include this analysis.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements her Department has made with the Maritime Coastguard Agency to implement the final report on the Red Tape Challenge submitted to the Reducing Regulation Committee.

Michael Penning: The deregulatory options emerging from the maritime Red Tape Challenge are being examined as part of the inter-Departmental challenge process. Once this has been concluded, later in the summer, the Department will consult the Reducing Regulation Committee on its deregulatory approach, following which a detailed implementation plan will be developed in conjunction with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests were made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for details of registered keepers of vehicles in each of the last three years; and what proportion of these requests were from the operators of car parks on private land.

Michael Penning: The following table provides the total number of requests for registered keeper details received at the DVLA for each of the last three years. It is not possible to break down this information to provide only the requests from operators of car parking companies on private land.
	
		
			  Total inquiries 
			 2009 17,379,410 
			 2010 17,257,261 
			 2011 14,878,644

Motor Vehicles: Registration

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what criteria the DVLA will release details of registered keepers of vehicles.

Michael Penning: Information about the keepers of vehicles registered in Great Britain by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may be disclosed where it is fair and lawful. Specific legislation allows for the registered keeper details to be disclosed to the police, local authorities and customs officers. Information can also be disclosed to those who have a reasonable cause for requiring it. This is primarily where the vehicle has been involved in an incident where there may be liability on the part of the user. The DVLA has safeguards in place to ensure that data are disclosed only to legitimate organisations and are not misused by the recipient.

Private Hire Vehicles: Greater London

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to promote competition in the private hire industry in London.

Norman Baker: The Law Commission is currently consulting on the law around taxis and private hire vehicles. This is a good opportunity for those with an interest in the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regime to feed in their views and to help shape the future of the industry.
	The Department will be considering the Commission's consultation document and will be responding in due course.

Railways: East of England

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding the Greater Anglia franchise has received in cross-subsidies from other franchises in each year since 2004-05.

Theresa Villiers: Rail franchise subsidy or premium payments are determined on an individual franchise basis, with no account taken of any other franchise, whether operated by the same owning group or not.
	The Department does not have any information about any cross-subsidy between franchises as this is a commercial matter for the relevant owning group(s).

Railways: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the cost was to (a) her Department and (b) Network Rail of administering Schedule 8 payments as part of the delay attribution process in the rail sector, in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the TransPennine Express rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(3)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Southern rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(4)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Northern rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(5)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Greater Anglian rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(6)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the London Midland rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(7)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Cross-country rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(8)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Gatwick Express rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(9)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the East Midlands rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(10)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the South Eastern rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(11)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Midlands rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(12)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the Great Western rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(13)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the West Coast rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(14)  what the cost was to the public purse of determining delay attribution for the East Coast rail franchise in each year since the current franchise began;
	(15)  what the cost was of work on delay attribution in the rail sector in each of the last five years; and how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) her Department and (b) Network Rail working on delay attribution.

Norman Baker: Delay attribution is part of the process of managing operational performance within the rail industry and is for individual operators and Network Rail to administer. As such, any cost to the public purse is subsumed within overall industry costs, and is not identifiable by the Department.

Railways: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been (a) received and (b) paid out by Network Rail in Schedule 8 payments as part of the delay attribution process in the rail sector in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: The information requested is not held by the Department. Schedule 8 is a contractual element within the Track Access Agreement between Network Rail and each operator, and is overseen by the Office for Rail Regulation.

Shipping

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ministers from her Department attended the Posidonia international shipping conference in Athens from 8 to 12 June 2012; what the cost to the public purse was of ministerial attendance; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the Ministerial itinerary for the conference. [R]

Michael Penning: Details of ministerial overseas visits are routinely published every quarter and information covering the period up to the end of December 2011 can be accessed on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency
	Information covering the period up to the end of June 2012 will be published in due course.

Shipping

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials from (a) her Department and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) attended the Posidonia international shipping conference in Athens from 8 to 12 June 2012; what the cost to the public purse was of (i) officials' attendance and (ii) the MCA's corporate stand; and if she will make a statement. [R]

Michael Penning: Two departmental officials and two MCA officials attended at a cost of £6,349.65. There was no MCA stand at Posidonia.

Shipping: Pollution

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has held with the European Maritime Safety Agency, and what work it has conducted with that Agency, to co-ordinate oil spill response within the EU.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) routinely communicate with EMSA across a broad range of maritime pollution issues. This includes meetings concerning all aspects of oil and hazardous and noxious substances pollution response at sea. Another key element is CleanSeaNet which provides satellite imagery of probable pollution detected whilst providing a deterrent to possible polluters. The Department and MCA also participate in a number of EU programmes which involve EMSA aimed at furthering cooperation and best practice in contingency planning for and response to maritime pollution.

Shipping: Pollution

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has liaised with the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Action Group on her Department's decision to allow ship-to-ship transfers to take place off the coast of Southwold.

Michael Penning: The Department did not liaise with the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group on the Merchant Shipping (Ship-To-Ship Transfers) (Amendment) Regulations 2012. The primary reason was that the group's focus concentrated on oil drilling practices in the UK, in advance of the conclusion of investigations into the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig incident in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. The Group's work did not impact on the separate issue of the transfer of oil cargo between ships, the subject of the 2012 Regulations.

Shipping: Pollution

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she or officials in her Department have had with (a) maritime industry bodies and (b) foreign Governments about the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Action Group since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) was a member of the Oil Spill Response and Advisory Group (OSPRAG) when it was set up in May 2010 until it concluded its work in September 2011. Following the conclusion of OSPRAG, the Oil Spill Response Forum (OSRF) was set up in order to finish the few remaining outstanding OSPRAG tasks. The MCA has had a range of discussions with a number of national and international partners; both Government and industry, where they have presented and taken forward the findings from OSPRAG.

Tugboats: Scotland

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent from the public purse on emergency towing vessels in the waters around Scotland in each year since 2005.

Michael Penning: The following table details the cost of emergency towing vessels in the waters around Scotland in each of the financial years since 2005. The annual variability arises from fluctuations in fuel costs, port dues and levels of activity.
	
		
			 Financial year £ 
			 2005-06 5,327,351 
			 2006-07 5,569,042 
			 2007-08 5,589,862 
			 2008-09 5,705,843 
			 2009-10 5,497,043 
			 2010-11 5,048,743 
			 2011-12 4,316,341 
			 2012-13 (until the end of May 2012) 650,157

Tugboats: Scotland

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent from the public purse on temporary emergency towing vessel contracts in each month since withdrawal of funding for permanent cover.

Michael Penning: The information is not available on a month by month basis due to the structure of the contracts. The total cost of the contracts for temporary provision of the emergency towing vessel from 17 October 2011 to 31 May 2012 has been £3,783,212. The total cost reflects fixed and variable costs (including fuel costs and port dues which vary according to the level of activity).

EDUCATION

16-19 Bursary Fund

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the 16 to 19 Bursary Scheme on the number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds remaining in education; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many students in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) nationally have applied for the 16 to 19 Bursary Scheme in each year since its inception;
	(3)  how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) nationally receive payments under the 16 to 19 Bursary Scheme in each year since its inception;
	(4)  what the average payment to students who have applied to the 16 to 19 year old Bursary Scheme was in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) nationally in each year since its inception.

Nick Gibb: This year, we estimate that between 18,000 and 20,000 of the most disadvantaged young people (those in local authority care or those who have recently left care; those in receipt of income support; and the most severely disabled young people) will have received annual bursaries of £1,200 to help with the costs of continuing in further education or training. This is more than they would have received under the previous education maintenance allowance scheme.
	It has not yet been possible to carry out an assessment of the effects of the 16-19 Bursary Fund because the scheme has only been operating for eight months. Government statistics are being collected on young people's participation and the Education Funding Agency is also monitoring bursary take up. However this information will not allow us to assess the impact of the bursary from the many other factors known to affect young people's participation. For this reason an independent evaluation of the 16-19 Bursary Fund has been commissioned, which will assess the impact of the bursary including its effects on disadvantaged students. This will be complete by the end of 2014.
	Information on the number of students that apply for funding under the bursary scheme is held by schools, colleges and training providers and is not collected nationally. Information on the number of students receiving payments is being collected by the Education Funding Agency and should be available in early 2013.
	For similar reasons, it has also not been possible to assess how many people have received payments from the 16-19 Bursary Fund to date. The Government has asked providers for data, including the numbers of young people who have received Bursary Fund payments during the academic year, and this should be available in early 2013. The data are being collected at local authority level, so data on the number of Bursary Fund recipients in the Jarrow constituency will not be available.
	It is also not possible at present to ascertain how much on average, young people have received. The Government has asked schools, colleges and training providers for data, including the numbers of young people who have received Bursary Fund payments during the academic year, and this should be available in early 2013. The data will show how many young people have been supported by the Bursary Fund and this information should enable average payments to students to be calculated, but for the reasons set out above, data will not be available on a constituency basis.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bill of Rights

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: The Government remains committed to resolving this issue in a way that commands broad support in Northern Ireland, and continues to make efforts to achieve this. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), wrote to party leaders in Northern Ireland, including the hon. Lady, raising the possibility of work being taken forward by the Northern Ireland Assembly on this. So far, he has had no responses to this suggestion.

Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary was paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13.

Owen Paterson: The information is as follows:
	(A) 2010-11
	
		
			 FTE £ 
			 Highest salary 120,006 
			 Median salary 26,127 
			 Lowest salary 14,880 
		
	
	(B) 2011-12
	
		
			 FTE £ 
			 Highest salary 110,000 
			 Median salary 24,158 
			 Lowest salary 15,440 
		
	
	(C) 2012-13
	Ministry of Justice pay levels for 2012-13, which my Department follows, have yet to be set, so FTE salary information cannot be provided.
	My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland. The hon. Member may wish to write to these Commissions directly.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what estimate he has made of the saving to those affected in each case.

Owen Paterson: As my Department has responsibilities chiefly for constitutional, electoral and national security matters it has not repealed any regulations during this period.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Health Insurance

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff working in his Department are entitled to private health care as part of their remuneration package.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not provide private health care to its employees as part of their remuneration package.

Low Associates

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has received any representations from Low Associates since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: We have no record of any approaches or representations from Low Associates to Ministers or officials.

Occupational Pensions

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2012, Official Report, column 290W, on occupational pensions, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of (a) stakeholders in the development of the first evaluation report of the impact of the workplace pension reforms, (b) the agency worker industry in the development of the first evaluation report and (c) the agency worker industry in the development of future reports.

Steve Webb: The workplace pension reforms baseline evaluation report will be published in July 2012 at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrs-index.asp
	The baseline report aims to describe the landscape before the implementation of the reforms. This will be the first in a series of annual reports on the impact of the reforms as outlined in the Department's evaluation strategy.
	The baseline report and subsequent reports will reflect the views of a range of stakeholders. To inform the scope of the evaluation, views were gathered during workshops held in March 2012, which were attended by national bodies representing the agency sector, alongside other key stakeholders including industry providers, academics and research organisations. The outcomes of the workshops and a full list of organisations consulted will be published in the report.
	Analysts from the Department have also been working with stakeholders to identify information sources that can be used to measure the impact of the reforms on different sectors and groups and ways to enhance the analysis. A list of information sources will be included in the baseline report.
	Stakeholder views will continue to be taken into account over the course of the evaluation programme.

State Retirement Pensions

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on pensioners of the phasing out of payment of the state pension by cheque.

Steve Webb: We have sought the views of key customer representative groups, such as the RNIB and Age UK, to help us understand the needs of existing cheque payment users. Their feedback, along with that of pensioners themselves, has played an important role in helping us design the simple payment, to ensure that it is fully accessible.
	The simple payment will still allow pensioners to have easy access to their cash at a convenient outlet, and will provide the flexibility required for use by those who rely on someone else to collect their money for them.

Universal Credit

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to prevent fraudulent claims via online access to universal credit.

Chris Grayling: Universal credit will be protected by comprehensive and sophisticated cyber defence and counter-fraud systems.
	There are a number of activities underway in Government to prevent fraud and error through the online channel, as this the key to being “digital by default”.
	The DWP is developing the integrated risk and intelligence service for the purpose of identifying fraudulent universal credit claims at the point of contact using the latest tools and techniques now common in other sectors.
	In recognition of the very different threats faced when conducting business on line we are investing in the following to support universal credit:
	The creation of strong cyber defences to protect our infrastructure and data from malicious software
	Our data analytics capability is being enhanced to risk assess transactions before they enter the system and allow us to fast track low risk customers for payment, and route high risk claims to an appropriate fraud intervention prior to the claim being paid.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was invested in enterprises in (a) the area currently covered by City of York Council and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber by (i) Yorkshire Forward and (ii) the Regional Growth Fund (A) in cash terms and (B) at 2012 prices in each year since Yorkshire Forward was created.

Mark Prisk: Information on disbursements to enterprises in the City of York could be made available only at disproportionate cost. Yorkshire Forward's net expenditure across its region since it was created in cash terms and at 2010-11 prices (the latest available) was:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Cash Equivalent in 2010-11 prices 
			 1998-99 1 1 
			 1999-2000 121 155 
			 2000-01 125 159 
			 2001-02 207 260 
			 2002-03 211 258 
			 2003-04 244 292 
			 2004-05 288 335 
			 2005-06 294 334 
			 2006-07 313 344 
			 2007-08 300 323 
			 2008-09 292 305 
			 2009-10 320 329 
			 2010-11 172 172 
			 2011-12 172 172 
		
	
	From the first and second rounds of the regional growth fund (RGF), bids to the value of £44.4 million and £134.6 million respectively were successful from the Yorkshire and Humber region. The third round bids are currently being assessed. The RGF has spent £31.8 million in 2011-12 and £38,709 in 2012-13 (to date) in the region.

Business: Young People

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department provides to entrepreneurs aged 16 and 17 years old.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 June 2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) provides funding to a number of organisations, including the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs, working with schools and colleges to raise enterprise awareness and to build enterprise capability amongst all young people. Funding is focused upon supporting schools and colleges to provide hands-on enterprise experience as the evidence shows that this has the greatest impact upon perceptions of enterprise as a viable career option.
	BIS has recently launched a pilot scheme to test demand for start-up lending amongst 18 to 24 year olds and more information on this scheme can be found at:
	www.startupbritain.org/loans
	Start-ups typically raise finance from a diverse range of informal and formal sources. For those seeking help in identifying more formal sources of finance:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	provides a searchable database at:
	http://improve.businesslink.gov.uk/resources/business-finance-finder

Conditions of Employment

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what official meetings Adrian Beecroft had as part of his review of employment law.

Norman Lamb: This is a matter for Mr Beecroft.

Employment Agencies

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the role of the agency worker industry in (a) tackling unemployment, (b) promoting job creation and (c) protecting a flexible, skilled workforce in the UK.

Norman Lamb: We believe that the agency worker industry provides an important but relatively small range of employment opportunities. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC's) latest Recruitment Industry Trends reported that there were around 1 million temporary agency workers in the UK in 2010/11, compared with around 29 million people in employment overall.
	The indication is that agency work enables some people to return to work. Evidence from the Government's Labour Force Survey suggests that in 2011, over half of agency workers who had been in their current job for 12 months or less had not been in paid employment or self-employed prior to entering that post.
	There is also evidence that the agency worker industry leads to some workers initially taken on temporarily from an agency being made permanent employees at the firm they have been hired by. The latest REC Recruitment Industry Trends reports that slightly under half of agencies (44%) recorded some movement of their workers into permanent employment with the hiring firm.
	Temporary agency workers are represented in all the main occupational groups. In the fourth quarter of 2011 the Labour Force Survey showed that over 25% of temporary agency workers were in managers, directors and senior officials, professional or associated professional and technical occupation groups, while 22% were in elementary occupations.
	Information on the agency worker industry is taken from a number of sources which is not always compatible.

Regional Growth Fund

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what grants have been allocated through the Regional Growth Fund to organisations in Northamptonshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to date.

Mark Prisk: Given in the following table is the amount of regional growth fund grants allocated to organisations in Northamptonshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire from the first two bidding rounds.
	
		
			 Region Amount (£ million) 
			 Northamptonshire Nil 
			 Rutland Nil 
			 Leicestershire(1) 26 
			 Lincolnshire(1) 13 
			 Nottinghamshire(1) 3 
			 Derbyshire(1) 46 
			 (1) Includes the addition of Leicester, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Derby as part of regions specified. The definition for ceremonial counties have been used as opposed to county councils.

Regional Growth Fund

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Regional Growth Fund bids have been negotiated and agreed in each region to date; and what the monetary value is of those bids.

Mark Prisk: Given in the following table is the regional breakdown of bids agreed from round one and two of the regional growth fund.
	
		
			 Region Number of finalised bids Amount (£ million) 
			 North West 18 74 
			 North East 33 38 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 12 64 
			 West Midlands 12 164 
		
	
	
		
			 East Midlands 1 2 
			 London, South East and East of England 3 43 
			 South West 10 75 
			 Nationwide 7 231

HEALTH

Action on Smoking and Health

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by his Department to Action on Smoking and Health in 2011-12; and how much his Department has allocated in 2012-13.

Anne Milton: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) received funding of £150,000 in 2011-12 through the Department's ‘Section 64 General Scheme of Grants to Voluntary and Community Organisations'. The Grant was awarded for a project to ‘Work to support delivery of the Tobacco Control Plan for England'.
	ASH has made an application for funding in 2012-13 for a project proposal ‘Supporting the Tobacco Plan for England 2012-13'. The Department is currently considering this application.

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children between the ages of (a) 12 and 14, (b) 14 and 16 and (c) 16 and 18 living in (i) Medway unitary authority, (ii) Tonbridge and Malling unitary authority and (iii) Chatham and Aylesford constituency were receiving treatment for alcohol dependency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: It is not possible to provide the number of people receiving specialist alcohol interventions living in Tonbridge and Malling Unitary Authority or Chatham and Aylesford constituency. The number of 12 to 17-year-olds receiving specialist alcohol interventions in Kent and in Medway unitary authority is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Age 12-13 14-15 16-17 Total 
			 Kent * 46 67 *115 
			 Medway * 6 8 *15 
			 Note: All numbers under 5 have been suppressed to protect clients identification. Where totals could be derived, figures have been rounded to the to nearest 5 and marked with an asterisk ‘*’. Source: 2010-11 National Drug Treatment Monitoring System data for Primary alcohol clients in Kent and Medway Drug and Alcohol Action Team areas 
		
	
	Within these statistics, a young person's age is determined when they first start treatment or if they are already in treatment at the start of the year.
	Young people and their treatment needs differ from adults. Very few young people develop dependency. Those who use drugs or alcohol problematically are likely to be vulnerable and experiencing a range of problems, of which substance misuse is one.
	The majority of young people accessing specialist alcohol interventions have problems that require psychosocial, harm reduction and family interventions, rather than treatment for addiction. Most young people need to engage with specialist alcohol interventions for a short period, often weeks, before continuing with further support elsewhere within an integrated young people's care plan.

Brain Cancer

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that guidelines on identifying the signs and symptoms of brain tumours and on referral of patients for assessment are integrated into general practice and emergency medicine practice;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to implement National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on best practice on brain tumours.

Paul Burstow: Since its publication in 2005, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance ‘Referral guidelines for suspected cancer’ has helped clinicians to identify and refer patients with symptoms of suspected cancer, including brain tumours. This guidance has been designed for professionals and agencies including general practitioners, nurse practitioners, ophthalmic practitioners, out-of-hours services, NHS Direct and clinicians in accident and emergency departments.
	‘Improving Outcomes for People with Brain and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumours’, published by NICE in 2006, sets out best practice recommendations on the treatment, management and care of patients with brain tumours.
	Our Cancer Outcomes Strategy makes it clear that both sets of NICE guidance will continue to be a feature of all commissioned cancer services. Cancer Networks are working with the NHS to support compliance with Improving Outcomes Guidance. Peer review measures for brain and CNS tumours are supporting the NHS to evaluate services for patients with brain tumours and to drive improvement across the service.

Cancer

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Commissioning Outcomes Framework, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on cancer survival rates of the proposals to seek improvements in five year survival rates only for colorectal, lung and breast cancer.

Simon Burns: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been asked to develop recommendations for indicators for the Commissioning Outcomes Framework to measure the quality and outcomes of services commissioned by clinical commissioning groups.
	NICE’s independent Commissioning Outcomes Framework Advisory Committee met on 21 and 22 May to review and consider the evidence base on the indicators published as part of NICE’s consultation in February 2012.
	NICE intends to publish the recommendations of its Advisory Committee in August 2012. It will then be for the NHS Commissioning Board to decide on the final indicator set to use for the Commissioning Outcomes Framework.

Cancer

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how and by whom he proposes that the NHS Commissioning Board will be held to account for the commissioning of specialist cancer services.

Paul Burstow: The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), will hold the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) to account for the outcomes set out in the NHS Outcomes Framework and for the quality of the services that it commissions directly.
	No final decisions have yet been taken on which services the NHSCB will directly commission from April 2013. Work is currently under way with national health service commissioners in developing the list of services. Ministers expect to be in a position to set out an initial list in the summer. This will then be subject to consultation with the NHSCB before regulations are made.

Cancer

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with the NHS Commissioning Board Special Health Authority on how the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey could be used to improve patient care and services; and if he will make a statement.

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that the results of the forthcoming National Cancer Patients Experience Survey will be used to improve patient care and services.

Paul Burstow: The fieldwork for the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey is finished and analysis is under way. National and trust level reports are expected to be published in the summer.
	The Department will make the national and trust level reports widely available to drive and inform local service improvement. The reports will provide a breakdown of the experience of cancer patients across a number of stages in the cancer care pathway and will include analysis of improvement levels since the 2010-11 survey. The trust level reports will provide benchmarked data nationally and between teams so that priority improvement areas can be identified.
	The National Cancer Action Team has worked with cancer networks over the last year to use the results of the 2010-11 survey to drive service improvements and will continue this work using the results of the 2011-12 survey.
	The Department is encouraging stakeholders in the third sector who are planning to use the survey results to identify and share best practice in patient care and services to support service improvement activity.
	All the quantitative data will be sent to the National Data Archive at Essex University and will be freely available for access by researchers to undertake a series of analyses under the rules of the archive.
	No specific discussions have taken place with the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) Special Health Authority on how the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey could be used to improve patient care and services in the future. However, from April 2013 onwards, decisions about the survey will be the responsibility of the NHSCB.

Care Homes

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the letters from his Department of 25 January and 18 April 2012, what reports he has received of local authorities negotiating with care homes on behalf of people self-funding their care.

Paul Burstow: Local authorities, as autonomous public bodies, have discretion to decide how best to arrange residential care for their populations. They are not required to notify the Department whether they arrange residential care on behalf of those who fund their own care and do not do so. The Department does not, therefore, hold the information requested.

Dental Services

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of NHS dentists correcting substandard work by dentists trained overseas given temporary registration by the General Dental Council;
	(2)  how many dentists trained overseas were given temporary registration by the General Dental Council in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally. The General Dental Council (GDC) approves the temporary registration of selected overseas dentists under longstanding arrangements whereby these dentists obtain training and experience of working in the national health service, which, on returning home, they use to the benefit of their local health services. Dentists with temporary registration can practise only under the supervision of a GDC registered consultant. Given that the number of temporary registrants is not large and we would normally expect their supervisors to correct any substandard dentistry as part of their supervisory role, we doubt if the costs are disproportionate to the benefits of the arrangements.
	The number of temporary registrations approved by the GDC in each of the last five years ending 31 December is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2007 214 
			 2008 309 
			 2009 294 
			 2010 238 
			 2011 192

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce specified levels of commissioning for diabetes.

Paul Burstow: From April 2013, commissioning of services for diabetes will be a matter for clinical commissioning groups, subject to statutory guidance issued by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB). The NHSCB will also directly commission services as described in regulations.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have had funding withdrawn, wholly or partially, for (a) integrated diabetes networks and (b) specialist diabetes carers; and how much funding was withdrawn in each case.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
	Individual primary care trust (PCTs) revenue allocations are not broken down by service or policy area. It is for PCTs to commission services to meet the health care needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities.

Diabetes: Leicestershire

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Leicestershire Primary Care Trust spent on renal failure in diabetics in (a) 2002, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 to date.

Paul Burstow: The requested information is not held centrally. The right hon. Member may wish to contact Leicestershire Primary Care Trust for this information.

Disability Aids

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage re-use of mobility equipment that is no longer required by the original user.

Paul Burstow: It is for local authorities and primary care trusts to ensure that they encourage their local providers to ensure when mobility equipment is no longer needed that the equipment is collected, reconditioned and passed on to the next person who may need it.

Drugs and Alcoholic Drinks: Veterans

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ex-armed forces personnel in England are diagnosed with (a) drug dependency, (b) alcohol dependency and (c) both drug and alcohol dependency; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This data is not collected centrally. The national health service does not register people who are diagnosed as being dependent on alcohol or drugs. We do collect data on people receiving structured treatment for alcohol and/or drug dependency—this is done through the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, which in turn collects alcohol treatment data through the National Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System and drug treatment data through the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System. However, neither of these organisations collect data on an individual's veteran status.

Food: Labelling

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department will take to encourage food companies to adopt the front of pack nutrition labelling scheme his Department recommends;
	(2)  what steps the Government is taking to ensure that his Department's recommended front of pack nutrition labelling is the most useful to consumers;
	(3)  what consideration his Department has given to the BMRB report on the comprehension and use of UK nutrition signpost labelling schemes, commissioned by the Food Standards Agency and published in 2009 as part of the Government's consultation on front of pack nutrition labelling;
	(4)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the scheme it recommends for front of pack nutrition labelling does not increase dietary health inequalities in respect of consumers who are less numerate or for whom English is not their first language; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Governments across the United Kingdom launched a UK-wide 12-week consultation on front of pack (FoP)-nutrition labelling on 14 May 2012. This is an open consultation and does not recommend any one particular FoP labelling system. It is an opportunity for the food industry, public and all other interested parties to give their views on a number of issues relating to FoP labelling.
	The consultation is based on the most recent evidence available, including the BMRB report on the comprehension and use of nutrition signpost labelling schemes, which was published in 2009.
	Currently there is little published evidence which differentiates the effects of labelling schemes on subgroups in the population, which is why we are asking for any relevant unpublished work though the consultation.
	The findings from the consultation will be used to help develop the approach on nutrition labelling across the four countries of the UK.

Genetics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients have been diagnosed with chromosome 22 deficiency in each primary care trust area in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what specialist (a) treatment and (b) facilities are available to NHS patients with chromosome 22 deficiency.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information centrally.
	The testing for chromosome 22 deficiency is carried out in NHS regional genetic centres.
	There are multidisciplinary clinics available nationally for chromosome 22 deficiency (22 q11 deletion). As the condition can be very variable, not all patients need to be seen in specialist clinics. Once a patient has been seen by a genetics service, appropriate assessments and monitoring are put in place.

Health: Screening

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if his Department will publish details of the locations where the NHS health checks have been carried out;
	(2)  what steps he is taking in respect of primary care trusts which are not meeting their targets on the NHS health checks.

Anne Milton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) have been phasing in their local national health service health check programmes since 2009, and additional funding has been provided in baselines to support this. The NHS Health Check programme is a national performance measure in the Operating Framework for the NHS in England in 2012-13. PCT clusters have submitted plans to achieve full roll-out of their programmes this year. Performance against plans will be monitored by strategic health authority clusters and, in turn, the Department in the same way as other national performance measures for the NHS.
	Performance data on NHS Health Checks by PCT and PCT cluster are published quarterly on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/Integratedperfomancemeasuresmonitoring/DH_129481
	The latest available data are for Quarter 4 2011-12.

Heart Diseases

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age was of heart attack victims in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, the following table provides information on the mean age of people admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of heart attack.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Mean age 
			 2001-02 69.4 
			 2002-03 69.8 
			 2003-04 70.2 
			 2004-05 70.1 
			 2005-06 70.0 
			 2006-07 69.6 
			 2007-08 69.7 
			 2008-09 70.2 
			 2009-10 70.0 
			 2010-11 70.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Notes: 1. Mean age The mean (average) age of the patient in years on the date of admission. 2. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD-10 Codes used: 121 - Acute myocardial infarction 122 - Subsequent myocardial infarction 3. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 4. Activity included Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Heart Diseases

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with cardio- vascular disease (a) nationally and (b) in North Swindon constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Information on the number of people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) nationally and in North Swindon is not collected centrally.
	The South East Public Health Observatory, the lead public health observatory for CVD, produces CVD profiles, a set of indicators relating to cardiovascular disease that are available for every primary care trust in England. These profiles provide a snapshot of key issues relating to heart disease and stroke, including incidence, mortality, risk factors, treatments and costs. The profiles can be found at:
	www.sepho.org.uk/CVDprofiles.aspx

Heart Diseases

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people his Department estimates suffered a heart attack (a) nationally and (b) in North Swindon constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, the following table shows information on the number of finished admission episodes during 2010-11 where the primary diagnosis was heart attack.
	Not all patients who suffer a heart attack will be admitted to hospital, therefore these people will not be counted in these figures. Also, it is possible for an individual to have more than one admission to hospital for a heart attack within any given year and so the information given in the table is not a count of the number of people who have had a heart attack.
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)(1 )with a primary diagnosis of heart attack(2) for England and where the patient parliamentary constituency of residence(3) is D25—North Swindon—2010-11 
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Geographic area Count of FAEs 
			 England 62,837 
		
	
	
		
			 D25—North Swindon 86 
			 (1) Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD-10 Codes I21—Acute myocardial infarction I22—Subsequent myocardial infarction (3) Parliamentary constituency of residence The parliamentary constituency containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another area or region for treatment. Data quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Homeopathy

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has considered making homoeopathic treatments available on the NHS.

Anne Milton: The Department does not maintain a position on any particular complementary or alternative therapies including homeopathy. It is the responsibility of local national health service organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of such treatments, taking account of issues to do with safety, clinical and cost-effectiveness and the availability of suitably qualified/regulated practitioners.

Kidneys: Transplant Surgery

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consideration his Department has given to the provision of long-term strategic direction and leadership for kidney transplant services over the next 10 to 15 years.

Anne Milton: The implementation of the Organ Donation Taskforce's 14 recommendations published in 2008 has been successful with a 35% increase in donor rates over the baseline year of 2007-08. We continue to support work at a local, regional and national level focusing on increasing consent rates, particularly from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities, and optimising donation from all potential donors.
	Increasingly, operational responsibility in the future will rest with NHS Blood and Transplant as the national donation organisation. They are currently developing the post-2013 strategy that will build on the Taskforce's recommendations. This will be supported by commissioning as the new national health service arrangements are put in place.

Mental Health Act 2007

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department made of the effectiveness of the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department is currently working on a post-legislative assessment of the Mental Health Act 2007.

NHS: Equality

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of changes to the level of public funding to address health inequalities since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Funding allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) have not been broken down by service or policy area at national or local level. PCTs have been responsible for setting their local priorities for the services they commission to meet the health care needs of their local populations.

NHS: Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people employed in the NHS are earning more than £100,000 per annum.

Simon Burns: Information is not held centrally on the salaries of national health service staff.
	The Government Actuary's Department estimate that, as at 2008, 36,000 NHS Pension Scheme members had whole time equivalent pensionable pay of over £100,000.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the original timetable for putting an interim team from the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in place in the North Cumbria University Trust by May 2012 has been achieved.

Simon Burns: The acquisition of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a matter for the local national health service. The hon. Member may wish to approach the chief executives of the trusts for further information on the acquisition process.

Obesity

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK have been diagnosed with obesity in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is not available for Jarrow constituency, the South Tyneside area, or the United Kingdom.
	Information on the percentage of obese adults aged 16 and over in England is available in the ‘Health Survey for England—2010’, Adult trend tables, Table 4. Information is provided for all adults (men and women) in England for the years 1993 to 2010. This information is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse10trends
	Information on the percentage of obese adults (men and women) aged 16 and over by strategic health authority (SHA) area in 2010 is available in Table 10.3 on page 15 of chapter 10—Adult anthropometric measures, overweight and obesity of the ‘Health Survey for England—2010: Respiratory health’ report. This information is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse10report
	Information on the percentage of obese adults (men and women) aged 16 and over by SHA area in 2008 is available in Table 7.3 on page 194 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2008: Physical activity and fitness’ report. This information is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse08physicalactivity
	Information on the percentage of obese adults (men and women) aged 16 and over by SHA area in 2007 is available in Table 3.3 on page 53 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2007: Healthy lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour’ report. This information is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse07healthylifestyles
	Information on the percentage of obese adults (men and women) aged 16 and over by SHA area in 2006 is available in Table 5.3 on page 99 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2006: Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults’ report. This information is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse06cvdandriskfactors
	Copies of all these publications have already been placed in the Library.

Out-patients: Attendance

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to address the cost to the NHS of missed appointments.

Simon Burns: The NHS Constitution emphasises patients' responsibilities including making it clear that “You should keep appointments, or cancel within reasonable time”.
	Local national health service organisations make their own arrangements for preventing and dealing with missed appointments, for example by agreeing local standards in contracts between commissioners and providers and sending written or telephone reminders to patients.

Patient Choice Schemes

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are measures in place to ensure that the Patient Advice Liaison Service gives NHS users a choice of hospital clinic.

Simon Burns: The Patient Advice and Liaison Service exists to provide contacts within the national health service to whom patients can turn if they have a problem or need information in relation to hospital or other NHS services. It would be inappropriate for them to become directly involved in choices about healthcare.

Patient Choice Schemes

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what systems are in place to support an NHS user who has not been given a choice of hospital clinic by their GP and the Patient Advice Liaison Service;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that advice is available to NHS users when their GP and the Patient Advice Liaison Service do not give them a choice of hospital clinic.

Simon Burns: The right to make choices about required national health service care and receive information to support those choices exists within the NHS constitution. When undertaking discussions with their general practitioner, NHS patients may choose to be referred to a named consultant-led team for their first consultant-led out-patient appointment, if clinically appropriate.
	Directions place duties on primary care trusts (PCTs) to publicise and promote patients' entitlement to choice and to publish and report to the strategic health authorities the number of choice related complaints, and the action taken by PCTs.
	This Government are committed to the aim of providing everyone with more say in decisions about choice of care and treatment and has recently launched the choice publication ‘No decision about me, without me—Further consultation on proposals to secure shared decision-making’.
	The Patient Advice and Liaison Service exists to provide identifiable people within the NHS to whom patients can turn if they have a problem or need information in relation to hospital or other NHS services. It would be inappropriate for them to become directly involved in the actual offering of choice.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies was in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13.

Simon Burns: Information about base salary for the Department and its agency, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Department's arms length bodies has been placed in the Library. The quoted figures do not include allowances as to obtain this information would have incurred disproportionate costs.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Veterans

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ex-armed forces personnel living in Wales have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected by the national health service in England. Health is devolved, and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has its own health care system. The Department of Health in England does liaise regularly with the WAG in relation to veterans' welfare. The Ministry of Defence/UK Departments of Health Partnership Board, which includes representatives of the devolved Administrations meets quarterly to discuss relevant issues including veterans’ mental health.
	Some of the recent improvements to veterans' mental health care are being delivered in response to the ‘Fighting Fit’ report, by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), and are also openly accessible to those in the devolved Administrations. The veterans' 24-hour mental health helpline, for example, run in partnership with Combat Stress, is available as is the Big White Wall online emotional support network.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Veterans

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ex-armed forces personnel living in England were diagnosed with (a) post traumatic stress disorder and (b) complex post traumatic stress disorder in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, this Government considers the health and wellbeing of armed forces personnel, veterans and their families to be a top priority. My hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), published his review of mental health services for veterans in October 2010, and funding of £7.2 million was immediately announced to implement his recommendations. As a result, England as a whole now benefits from a number of enhanced services targeted at veterans' mental health and wellbeing. These include the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline run by Rethink, in partnership with Combat Stress; the emotional health support service Big White Wall; and a general practitioner awareness-raising e-learning package run with the Royal College of General Practitioners. In addition, enhanced veterans' mental health support services are now being put in place across the country.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what estimate he has made of the saving to those affected in each case.

Simon Burns: The Department did not repeal any regulations during the period 1 February and 31 May 2012.
	In line with the above, no savings were achieved.

Salt

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the European Commission's proposal to revise regulations on health claims in respect of added sodium and salt; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The United Kingdom has supported the European Commission's proposal to authorise a ‘no added salt’/‘no added sodium’ claim for use on foods. The claim will only be permitted on foods that have no salt added and in which the naturally-occurring salt content is low.
	Helping consumers to reduce their salt consumption is a priority for the Public Health Responsibility Deal; a salt reduction pledge was among the first food pledges to be published when the deal was launched in March 2011. Securing European Union wide agreement to this claim would enable manufacturers to signpost foods that are low in salt, thus helping people to select foods which may help them reduce their salt consumption.

Speech and Language Disorders: Young Offenders

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many young offenders there were in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of such offenders had speech or language issues;
	(2)  how many young offenders' institutions had (a) full-time speech and language therapists, (b) part-time speech and language therapists and (c) no speech and language therapists in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected by the Department.

Transplant Surgery

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Transitional Steering Group for Organ Transplantation has made towards its objectives.

Anne Milton: The Transitional Steering Group has met on three occasions. It is chaired by Professor Chris Rudge with representatives from all United Kingdom health administrations, NHS Blood and Transplant, the Intensive Care Society, the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the British Transplantation Society.
	The first two meetings agreed proposals for action to be taken at local, regional and national levels. These included at local level supporting senior nurses for organ donation, clinical leads and donation committees to optimise donation rates in hospitals. Work at a regional level relies primarily on regional collaboratives and the support and leadership they give to local donation committees. National responsibility rests with the UK health administrations, NHS Blood and Transplant and the professional colleges and societies.
	A review in March 2012 showed good progress. Donation rates at the end of 2011-12 had increased by 35% over the 2007-08 baseline but work continues at all levels to address the six key areas identified by the Transitional Steering Group for improvement, namely: increasing consent rates, optimising donation, identifying potential donors from emergency medicine, increased and timely referral of all potential donors, and improved donor management.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Cadets

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Government's Positive for Youth document and new approach to cross-governmental policy for 13 to 19 year olds, what steps he is taking to expand cadet forces into state schools; and how he is ensuring this will be done in a cost effective way.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 91W. In line with our commitment to Positive for Youth, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work with the Department for Education to explore options to expand the cadet forces. I recently held a conference with the Schools Commissioner to discuss options with key stakeholders. I am keen that any expansion is carried out in the most cost effective manner without diluting the cadet experience, and I hope that an announcement will be made soon.
	Positive for Youth applies to England only, but the MOD is of course willing to discuss similar opportunities with the devolved Administrations.

Armed Forces: Suicide

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force (i) committed and (ii) attempted suicide in each year since 1992.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The following table illustrates the number of suicides by serving members of the armed forces in each year since 1992:
	
		
			  All RN Army RAF 
			 1992 37 6 22 9 
			 1993 43 5 25 13 
			 1994 34 6 20 8 
			 1995 43 2 32 9 
			 1996 32 7 19 6 
			 1997 26 4 17 5 
			 1998 19 2 13 4 
			 1999 28 6 18 4 
			 2000 36 6 22 8 
			 2001 16 2 12 2 
			 2002 15 4 11 0 
			 2003 25 3 15 7 
			 2004 20 2 16 2 
			 2005 22 5 13 4 
			 2006 12 0 10 2 
			 2007 10 4 6 0 
			 2008 9 0 7 2 
			 2009 14 2 10 2 
			 2010 6 3 2 1 
			 2011 5 3 2 0 
		
	
	Information on incidents of deliberate self harm, which can include attempted suicide but also less serious incidents, is set out in the following table. For the period to 2005 only information relating to the Army is held centrally. Data for 2006 onwards are available from the Tri-Service Notification of Casualty system, and from 2010 these have been supplemented by Defence Medical Information Capability Programme sources. These three series are therefore not directly comparable.
	
		
			 Army data 1994 to 2005 
			  Army 
			 1994 128 
			 1995 134 
			 1996 136 
			 1997 140 
			 1998 181 
			 1999 167 
			 2000 143 
			 2001 174 
			 2002 124 
			 2003 195 
			 2004 196 
			 2005 207 
		
	
	
		
			 Tri-Service Casualty Reporting System 2006-09 
			  All RN Army RAF 
			 2006 (1)— 28 29 (1)— 
			 2007 68 32 31 5 
			 2008 129 35 88 6 
			 2009 134 47 77 10 
			 (1) Fewer than five 
		
	
	Where there is only one cell in a row or column that is fewer than five, the next smallest number has also been suppressed so that numbers cannot be derived from totals.
	
		
			 Tri-Service Casualty Reporting System and Defence Medical Information Capability Programme 
			  All RN Army RAF 
			 2010 367 74 260 33 
			 2011 315 45 237 33

Defence Equipment

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 1, on new equipment expenditure, which lost and stolen items listed between May 2010 and March 2012 have subsequently been found or recovered.

Andrew Robathan: The following items were reported as stolen but were subsequently found or recovered during financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12:
	
		
			 Items Outcome 
			 Military Ceremonial Kit—1 x sword ORS; 1 x scabbard ORS; 1 x belt waist; 1 x sling sword; 1 x sling; 1 x lining; 1 x sword knot All items except sword recovered 
			 Fuel Monies recovered 
			 Laptop computer No crime. Item found 
			 Pyrotechnics Items were recovered 
			 TV viewing cards All items recovered 
			 4 x full size goal posts; 2 x small size goalposts No crime. Items recovered 
		
	
	
		
			 Flight deck helmet, goggles and ear defenders No crime. Items found 
			 Body armour and plates No crime. Items recovered 
			 Medical daysack No crime. Items found 
			 Head Stall, Bossess, SIR Singles, Brite Chain, Bit Banbury and Drum Horse Girth No crime. Items found 
			 Military daysack, green overalls, beret No crime. Items found 
			 Steel hoist; petrol mower; 3 x boxes chemical light sticks One item recovered 
			 Cash Recovered 
			 Silver plated cutlery No crime. Item found 
			 Various military clothing and equipment Recovered 
			 Landrover Item found 
			 Head mounted night vision system No crime. Item recovered 
			 Gortex clothing; bowman radio equipment 2 radios recovered 
			 MOD equipment Some items recovered 
			 Antenna; filters; headset No crime. Items found 
			 Camera No crime. Item found 
			 Foul weather jacket; daysack No crime. Item Found 
			 Smoke grenade Item recovered 
			 Expandable barrier for traffic control No crime—item found 
			 1 x rescue and salvage hydraulic kit Recovered 
			 MK 7 Kevlar helmet Recovered 
			 Dinghy Solved—item destroyed, not stolen 
			 Goal posts No crime. Items found 
			 Anti-freeze Item recovered 
			 2 x head mounted night vision systems No crime. Items found 
			 1 x night vision goggles No crime. Item recovered 
			 1 x night vision goggles No crime. Item returned 
			 Computer Item recovered 
			 1 x coat; 1 x tie; 1 x gloves No crime. Items found 
			 Various electronic equipment Items recovered 
			 7 x drill rifles 4 drill rifles recovered

External Reference Group for the Service Personnel Command Paper

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the External Reference Group.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 19 June 2012
	Officials have regular meetings with members of the Covenant Reference Group, which superseded the External Reference Group.
	A joint meeting between the Ministerial Committee on the Armed Forces Covenant and the Covenant Reference Group is currently in the planning stages. Separately, I have had various meetings with organisations which are members of the Community Reference Group, such as the Families Federations and Service Charities, but not as representatives of the group.

Fraud

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the level of (a) procurement and (b) other fraud affecting his Department's spending in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s estimated losses to procurement fraud were £2.7 million in financial year (FY) 2010-11 and £5.8 million in FY 2011-12. Losses for all other categories of fraud were estimated to be £3.4 million in FY 2010-11 and £5.2 million in FY 2011-12. These losses represent less than 0.019% of the Defence Budget in 2010-11 and less than 0.033% in 2011-12.
	The estimate of loss is provided when suspicions are initially reported and will only be quantified when investigative processes have been completed. These figures will fluctuate on an annual basis depending on the particular allegations of fraud under investigation in any one year.
	The MOD is developing initiatives to better understand the risks of fraud, and to enhance existing mechanisms aimed at preventing, detecting and responding to fraud.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether sea trials of the F35b aircraft will involve both Royal Navy and RAF pilots.

Peter Luff: Decisions on which pilots will participate in sea trials on the F35b aircraft will be taken nearer the time. They will be drawn from a joint Joint Strike Fighter force of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel.

Medals: Territorial Army

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many campaign medals were awarded to Territorial Army (a) officers and (b) other ranks in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: The number of campaign medals in respect of Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan awarded to Territorial Army officers and other ranks in each of the last five years, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Calendar year Officers Other ranks Total 
			 2008 330 1,180 1,510 
			 2009 280 1,040 1,310 
			 2010 180 880 1,060 
			 2011 140 760 900 
			 2012 (up to 13 June 2012) 110 320 430 
			 Total 1,040 4,170 5,210

Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the public have communicated with his Department about the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme since May 2010; how many such people identified themselves as former members of the armed forces; and if he will place copies of any such correspondence in the Library.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence holds no records of written communications from members of the public about the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme since May 2010.
	There may have been other forms of communication from members of the public but this information is not held centrally.

Territorial Army

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the Territorial Army numbers in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of the target threshold this represents;
	(2)  how many Territorial Army (TA) personnel he proposes to allocate above present numbers in each constituent part of the UK as part of his uplift of the overall TA numbers.

Andrew Robathan: The Strategic Defence and Security Review and subsequent Defence Transformation announcement laid out the key role that the Territorial Army would play in the delivery of the Army's structure under Future Force 2020. As a result of this, the regular/reserve balance will be adjusted, with the aim of achieving an integrated Army of around 120,000 by 2020, of which some 30,000 will be trained reserve personnel, with a further 8,000 under training.
	Against this target, the following table shows the Territorial Army numbers (trained and untrained) in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England at 1 April 2012.
	
		
			 Territorial Army personnel stationed location as at1 April 2012 
			  Number 
			 (a) Northern Ireland 1,640 
			 (b) Wales 1,470 
			 (c) Scotland 2,460 
			 (d) England 19,430 
			 Notes: The figures are based on service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence—where personnel work is not necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. Source: DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	An announcement on the Army's new structure is planed to be made before the summer recess. Further work will then be required before the exact regional spread of Territorial Army personnel across the UK is decided.

Territorial Army

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel are serving in each regiment; how many such personnel are required by each regiment; and how many such personnel will be required to meet the 2020 objective.

Andrew Robathan: Information relating to the strength and establishment (manpower requirement) for Territorial Army (TA) regiments is not held centrally.
	As at 1 April 2012 there were around 25,000 members of the TA (trained and untrained strength), against an Army 2020 objective of some 30,000 trained reserve personnel with a further 8,000 under training.

Training

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on education and training in each of the last five years; and how much of that amount was spent on training for specific equipment.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence invests in both internal and external training for service and civilian personnel. Given the central importance of readiness for operations, whether ongoing commitments such as Afghanistan or new contingencies, training lies at the core of what we do. This means that training costs are not easily separated out from the rest of the Defence Budget, and that includes the amount spent on training for specific equipment.
	It is, however, possible to identify the costs for external training for the last five years and these are given in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2006-07(1) 189.26 
			 2007-08(1) 197.15 
			 2008-09 230.44 
			 2009-10 233.69 
			 2010-11 204.89 
			 (1) Figures prior to 2008-09 also include External Assistance costs.

Veterans: Discrimination

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with employers on tackling discrimination against veterans in the workplace.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 19 June 2012
	The Ministry of Defence encourages all employers to value the skills and experience which former service personnel can bring to the workplace.

War Memorials

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what places will be provided for Bomber Command veterans at the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park on 28 June 2012.

Andrew Robathan: The allocation of tickets has been co-ordinated entirely by the Bomber Command Association. However, we understand that the vast majority of places in the Memorial and Saluting Areas of the event site in Green Park, which has a combined capacity of 6,600 licensed by Westminster council, have been allocated to veterans, the next of kin of the 55,573 members of Bomber Command killed during the War, their carers and immediate family.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have committed money for the Afghan National Security Force from 2014; and for how many years they have pledged to continue that funding.

William Hague: The following countries have publicly committed money to support the Afghan National Security Forces after 2014:
	Afghanistan, US, UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Finland, Turkey, Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, Norway, Hungary, Austria, Romania.
	The UK has announced that we will provide £70 million for an initial period from 2015 and kept under review. We do not have details of the intended duration of each country's contribution. We would expect the contribution from the international community to decrease as the capacity of the Afghan forces increases.

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department expects the $4.1 billion a year which is estimated to be required to maintain a permanent 230,000-strong security force in Afghanistan from 2014 to be fully pledged by contributing countries.

William Hague: At the NATO summit in Chicago, the international community made pledges totalling around $1 billion towards the US request of $1.3 billion for the funding of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The UK has pledged £70 million. We expect other countries to finalise their contributions over the coming months. We will continue to work with our US, Afghan and NATO partners to ensure the ANSF are sustainable.

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the (a) likely size of the Afghan National Security Forces in 2014 and (b) amount of funding available to maintain it at that size.

William Hague: The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are expected to reach their 'surge' target of 352,000 during 2012 and to be at that level in 2014. There will need to be a managed drawdown to reach the enduring level agreed between the Afghan Government and the international community of around 230,000 at some point after 2014. The pace of that drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground. The costs of the enduring size of the ANSF are envisaged at $4.1 billion.

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British forces remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 will be covered by the status of forces agreement to be signed between the US and Afghan authorities.

William Hague: The Prime Minister has made clear that UK forces will not be in a combat role after 2014. The NATO Strategic Plan for Afghanistan, agreed by Heads of State and Government at the NATO Chicago summit, sets out the activities in which NATO expects to be engaged after 2014. This plan will form the basis of future work by NATO to determine with the Afghan Government the legal framework under which it will carry out these activities. The UK intends to play its part in supporting NATO activities and we envisage that any NATO status of forces agreement will provide the necessary legal arrangements.

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the threat from terrorism from Afghanistan after 2014; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: International forces in Afghanistan are currently working to ensure that al Qaeda, and those willing to offer them sanctuary, will not be able to re-establish themselves there and pose a threat to the region and the UK after British combat operations end in 2014.

Afghanistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether any British forces operating in Afghanistan to combat terrorism after 2014 will be part of a NATO command and control structure if they are not part of the training mission;
	(2)  what the command and control structure will be for any British forces remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 with a role to combat terrorism rather than only training Afghan forces.

William Hague: The Prime Minister has made clear that UK forces will not be in a combat role after 2014. Our confirmed contributions to Afghanistan after 2014 include our leading role in the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and our £70 million contribution to sustaining the Afghan National Security Forces. No further decisions have been taken on any other activities British troops may undertake after 2014. NATO is currently working to define its mission post 2014 and its command and control structure for this period has not yet been configured.

Afghanistan: Pakistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the closing of the supply lines between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

William Hague: The supply lines through Pakistan are used by the UK and NATO partners to support our military mission in Afghanistan. Since their November closure, NATO allies have used alternative arrangements to mitigate the impact.

Afghanistan: Pakistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Pakistan authorities on the re-opening of the supply lines between Pakistan and Afghanistan which were closed in November 2011.

William Hague: I discussed a wide range of issues with my Pakistani counterpart when I visited Islamabad on 12 June, including the importance of progress on negotiations on supply lines between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Anti-Semitism: Football

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received of anti-Semitism at football matches in (a) Poland and (b) Ukraine since January 2012; what discussions he has had with the Governments of (i) Poland and (ii) Ukraine on (A) anti-Semitism and (B) anti-Semitic chanting at football matches since January 2012; what response was received from each Government; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what discussions he has had on with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on (a) anti-Semitism and (b) anti-Semitic chanting at football matches in (i) Poland and (ii) Ukraine since January 2012; what response was given by UEFA; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(3)  what recent reports he has received of anti-Semitic chanting during football matches hosted by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in June 2012 in (a) Poland and (b) Ukraine; what recent discussions he has had with UEFA on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [R]

David Lidington: The Government has not received any reports of anti-Semitism at football matches in Poland and Ukraine since January 2012. We have not had any discussions on this subject, or on anti-Semitic chanting at football matches, with the Governments of either country or UEFA.
	In accordance with our commitment to combat all discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnicity, we are committed to confronting anti-Semitism wherever it is found. We are working with the London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC) on a series of seminars to bring together journalists from Central and Eastern Europe and the UK to raise awareness of the rise of anti-Semitism and racism and discuss strategies for countering it. Together with the LJCC we are committed to promoting press freedom and to combating discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnicity.
	Our embassy in Warsaw is actively engaged in promoting tolerance and awareness in anti-Semitism. Examples include a highly successful Jewish Community Centre in Krakow which was opened by HRH Prince of Wales in 2008. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), visited Auschwitz-Birkenau last December

Diplomatic Service: Official Cars

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 376W, on diplomatic service: official cars, what other vehicles are used by UK high commissions in each of the Commonwealth countries.

David Lidington: In Commonwealth countries high commissioners use their official flag car when on official business. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information about non-official cars they may use centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service: Official Cars

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 3763W, on diplomatic service: official cars, what other vehicles are used by UK embassies in each other EU member state.

David Lidington: Specific detail of all official vehicles used by our embassies in EU states is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Environment Protection: Fisheries

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the talks which were agreed during the Prime Minister's meeting with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 8 June 2012, will begin; and whether they will include the questions of sovereignty, the return of the Chagossians and the Marine Protected Area.

Henry Bellingham: During Dr Ramgoolam’s meetings with the Prime Minister and myself on 8 June there was no agreement to formal talks, although we retain a warm bilateral relationship. During the meetings we expressed interest in a more constructive relationship on British Indian Ocean Territory issues, though we made it clear that this was difficult while court cases continue. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer to question HL 633 from Lord Avebury.

Euro 2012

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed with representatives of UEFA and the authorities in the host countries of the Euro 2012 Championships the training provided to the appropriate authorities in respect of the policing of Euro 2012; and if he will seek assurance from the Ukrainian and Polish authorities that the full force of the law will be used to protect football fans going to the tournament.

David Lidington: Security is the responsibility of the Governments of Poland and Ukraine as the hosts of Euro 2012, working with UEFA. The Home Office and the UK Football Policing Unit have been working with the host countries for a number of years to assist their preparations for the policing of Euro 2012. We have shared best practice on security at major events, including bespoke training on policing football matches for both host countries through the European Commission-funded Pan-European Policing Training Project. Under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), a delegation of UK police officers has been deployed to both Ukraine and Poland during the tournament to support and advise the host police in venue cities. The British embassies in Poland and Ukraine continue to stress the importance of fan safety in our contacts with the local authorities.

Euro 2012

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision for consular support his Department will make for fans in Ukraine and Poland going to Euro 2012.

David Lidington: Drawing on lessons learned from previous European Championships and World Cups we have reinforced our consular teams in both countries, including through a mobile team of consular specialists who will be present in cities whenever England play. The team were present in Donetsk alongside the ambassador to meet and assist fans. We have ensured that Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials are available to speak to British nationals in need of consular assistance at any time of day, either direct with the consular staff in Poland or Ukraine, or through the 24-hour FCO Global Response Centre in London. At the same time, we have worked closely with the Football Association, the Football Supporters Federation, the England Band and other Government Departments to ensure that England fans have access to the best possible information on personal safety. We have a Euro 2012 Web page set up so that any travellers to the tournament can look at information relating to the competition. We also worked closely with, and provided funding for, the Football Supporters Federation to enable them to produce their publication “Free Lions” a guide for England supporters travelling to Euro 2012.

France

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on anti-Semitism in France since March 2012; what discussions he has had with the Government of France on this issue since March 2012; and if he will make a statement. [R]

David Lidington: I was horrified to learn of the 19 March shootings at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school in Toulouse. Following this, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), immediately expressed his sympathy for the people of France, as did the Prime Minister in a personal letter to the then President Nicolas Sarkozy.
	The French Interior Minister and the Service for the Protection of the Jewish Community report that 148 acts of anti-Semitism took place in France between 19 March and 30 April 2012. There were 43 violent acts against people and property with 105 acts of intimidation in various forms.
	The Government takes anti-Semitism very seriously and condemns it in all its forms. I know the French Government shares this view.

Kosovo

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of efforts to resettle internally displaced persons in Kosovo.

David Lidington: The Government condemns the 22/23 May attack on two returnees' homes, one of which was completely destroyed, in the village of Drenovac. I urge the Kosovan Government to ensure that all efforts are made to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.
	The returns process remains a challenge for the Government of Kosovo. As noted in the European Commission's 2011 progress report on Kosovo, limited access to property, delayed property restitution proceedings and the scarcity of economic opportunities continue to be the main obstacles to sustainable returns.
	The UK Government are supporting, through their conflict prevention fund, two projects aimed at facilitating the return of Kosovo-Serb families to the historic centre of Prizren, and RAE (Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian) families to Istog municipality. This builds on the success of a returns project in Prizren town completed in 2011—the first urban return in Kosovo—which returned and reintegrated 10 K-Serb families into new homes.

Kosovo

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Kosovan Government on the treatment of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo.

David Lidington: The UK Government frequently discusses with the Government of Kosovo the importance of guaranteeing the rights, identity and culture of all Kosovo's minority citizens, including Kosovo-Serbs.
	The UK continues to support the implementation of Ahtisaari's comprehensive settlement proposal (CSP). This provides for an enhanced and sustainable system of local self government and specific rights for the Serbian and other minority communities in areas such as local self-government, democratic representation and the protection of religious and cultural heritage. These provisions, when fully implemented, will ensure a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo with wide rights at municipal level, progressing towards eventual EU membership and contributing to regional stability.

North Korea

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the US on the provision of a food aid package for North Korea in return for stops in nuclear testing, uranium enrichment and long range missiles.

Jeremy Browne: The British Government have held a number of discussions with the US Administration, in Washington, Seoul and London, about the details of the 29 February deal between the US and North Korea Six-party and the prospects for a return to Talks.

Pakistan

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the threat from terrorism from Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: Groups operating from Pakistan continue to represent the greatest long-term strategic terrorism threat to the UK. Although core al-Qaeda have suffered significant losses, they continue to pose a credible threat to the UK and our interests overseas.

Palestinians

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK-funded, EU-funded and UN-funded non-governmental organisations in the Palestinian Authority do not promote the glorification of terrorism and martyrdom.

Alistair Burt: The UK, along with the US, EU and other European countries, funds the Palestinian Authority to deliver essential services such as health and education to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Our development assistance is governed by a memorandum of understanding which reaffirms the Palestinian Authority's commitment to non-violence and a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations his Department has repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and if he will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office rarely sponsors regulations and has not been responsible for repealing any between 1 February and 31 May 2012.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what correspondence (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK; and if he will place any such correspondence in the Library;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Scottish Government Ministers or officials on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

David Lidington: I have not had any correspondence or discussions on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK with any Scottish Government representative, nor have my ministerial colleagues or Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials.
	The Government's position is clear: Scotland is stronger as part of the UK and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it. The Government are not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the United Kingdom in any referendum.

Sri Lanka

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had recent discussions with the Sri Lankan high commissioner to the UK on the diplomatic immunity of the defence attaché, Major General Prasanna De Silva.

Alistair Burt: Ministers have had no recent discussions with the Sri Lankan high commissioner on the diplomatic immunity of Minister (Defence) Major General Prasanna De Silva. Following allegations of war crimes earlier this year, the Sri Lankan high commission contacted officials to confirm Major General De Silva’s ongoing diplomatic immunity. Major General De Silva left the country at the end of his posting in May 2010.

Sri Lanka

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received representations from the Sri Lankan high commissioner on the appointment of the country's defence attaché, Major General De Silva.

Alistair Burt: Major General Prasanna De Silva was appointed as Minister (Defence) at the Sri Lankan high commission in September 2010 and left the country at the end of his posting in May 2012. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), did not receive direct representations from the Sri Lankan high commission, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office received the usual written correspondence associated with the appointment process.

Syria

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure has been incurred in supporting Syrian opposition groups; what supplies or funds have been provided; and to which groups.

Alistair Burt: During his speech at the Mansion House on 29 March and his statement to the House on 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 34, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), set out that we would provide £1.5 million of non lethal project-based support to a wide array of oppositionists and civil society groups. This will be spent on training and capacity building in a number of key areas including leadership, co-ordination, strategic communication, strategy development and human rights.

TREASURY

Government Securities

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average yield on gilt issuance was in the six months up to (a) 14 October 2011, (b) 30 January 2012 and (c) 28 March 2012.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The average yields on gilts issued by the Debt Management Office, weighted by cash proceeds, in the six months to 14 October 2011, 30 January 2012 and 28 March 2012 respectively are as follows:
	(a) A nominal yield of 2.845% on conventional gilts and a real yield of 0.545% on index-linked gilts;
	(b) A nominal yield of 2.174% on conventional gilts and a real yield of 0.236% on index-linked gilts; and
	(c) A nominal yield of 2.141% on conventional gilts and a real yield of 0.158% on index-linked gilts.

Members: Correspondence

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to respond to the letter of 18 April 2012 from the hon. Member for Weaver Vale on behalf of Ms Joanne Charles.

Mark Hoban: I replied to my hon. Friend on 19 June 2012.

Public Sector: Pay

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appointments with a salary over £142,000 he has (a) approved and (b) rejected since May 2010.

Danny Alexander: In May 2010, it was announced that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury would be required to sign-off the salaries of any individuals earning over a full-time equivalent of £142,500, in areas under ministerial control.
	As of 29 May 2012, I have been asked to approve the remuneration of 196 senior appointments. When applications come in, I can and do both reject them if I think they are too high and impose a lower salary range.

Personal Savings

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reward good saving habits; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government's savings strategy is based on the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility, so that it meets the needs of consumers while remaining effective and affordable. In particular, the Government aims to encourage more lower and middle income households to start saving and to save more, especially for the long term and retirement.
	The Government has taken steps to support existing savers and encourage new savers, including:
	1. Promoting choice by providing flexibility to consumers in a competitive market. This Government introduced the Junior ISA, removed the effective requirement to annuitise at age 75, and announced at Budget 2012 that the Government will work with industry to improve competitiveness and transparency in the ISA market, including encouraging industry to make use of the technological advances in how information and funds can be transferred to bring further reductions in the time taken to transfer a cash ISA between providers. The Government also welcomes and strongly supports the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) recommendations to make it easier for personal customers, small businesses and charities to switch their bank account. The Government is clear that the new switching proposals need to be fully implemented by the industry by September 2013 and will monitor progress closely through quarterly interim reports.
	2. Promoting fairness in incentives to save by introducing automatic enrolment of employees into a pension scheme from October 2012, reforming the way pensions tax relief is restricted and indexing ISA contribution limits to inflation.
	3. Promoting personal responsibility within the saving, debt and protection system. To encourage individuals to save, the Government provides tax relief on private pension saving, worth around £24 billion in 2010-11, and tax relief on cash and stocks and shares saving in ISAs, worth around £2 billion in 2010-11. Promoting personal responsibility also involves making sure that individuals are equipped to exercise effective choice and plan for expected and unexpected events. This Government has introduced the Money Advice Service, which among other services provides a free financial ‘healthcheck'; asked an independent Steering Group to devise a suite of simple financial products to help increase the number of new participants in savings and protection insurance markets by providing straightforward, easy to understand products; and worked with industry and consumer groups to establish a ‘default' open market option, which requires retirees to make an active choice about their provider and the shape of their annuity.

WorldSpreads

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had discussions on the delivery of compensation for customers of WorldSpreads if their money is not returned.

Mark Hoban: WorldSpreads Ltd was authorised to conduct investment business by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA confirmed on 18 March 2012 that the company had entered the Special Administration Regime and that joint special administrators had been appointed. The special administrators are carrying out a review and will return as much cash as possible to affected customers. Depending on individual circumstances customers may have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) should there be any losses. The FSCS is currently working with the special administrators to determine the best process for ensuring eligible customers of WorldSpreads Ltd receive compensation quickly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Recruitment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 489W, on recruitment, to what extent his Office used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	Recruitment processes differ between Civil Service Departments and it is not mandated that Departments use the Civil Service e-recruitment system. Neither No 10 Downing street nor the Cabinet Office (or any of its non-departmental public bodies) currently use the Civil Service Resourcing (CSR) e-recruitment system to recruit their staff. We are currently considering whether and when to adopt the full Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Equality

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to establish a separate objective in respect of gender equality in the replacement framework for the Millennium Development Goals.

Andrew Mitchell: I am committed to ensuring that gender equality is at the heart of the global development goals that will replace the Millennium Development Goals. This could take the form of a separate goal on gender or ensuring that some targets are specifically on girls and women and that all data is gender disaggregated. The Prime Minister and his co-chairs on the High Level Panel will want to listen to the voice and experiences of others to ensure that the new framework secures the best outcome for girls and women.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary was paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13.

Alan Duncan: The following table indicates the highest, median, median full-time equivalents and lowest full-time equivalents for DFID:
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Highest salary (£5,000 banding) £170,000 to £174,999 £160,000 to £164,999 £160,000 to £164,999 
			 Median salary £45,034 £47,273 (1)£47,273 
			 FTE median salary £47,284 £47,284 (1)£47,284 
			 FTE lowest salary £15,305 £15,555 (1)£15,555 
			 (1) Pay award pending—1 August 2012.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what estimate he has made of the saving to those affected in each case.

Alan Duncan: DFID has not repealed any regulations between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012 and is not responsible for any regulations that are currently in force.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what correspondence (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK; and if he will place any such correspondence in the Library;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Scottish Government Ministers or officials on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

Alan Duncan: Ministers and Officials at DFID have not had any discussions or correspondence with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.
	The Government's position is clear: Scotland is stronger as part of the UK and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it.
	The Government is not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the United Kingdom in any referendum.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were extradited to the UK under a European arrest warrant in 2011-12; and from which EU member states they were extradited.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 June 2012
	During the business year 2011-12, 86 people were returned to the UK as a result of European arrest warrants issued by UK prosecutors. This figure includes two people returned from Gibraltar. The following table breaks this down by country.
	
		
			 Number of people extradited to the UK under a European arrest warrant in 2011-12 and the EU member statethey were extradited from 
			 Country Number 
			 Austria 0 
			 Belgium 2 
			 Bulgaria 1 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Czech Republic 1 
			 Denmark 2 
			 Estonia 1 
			 Finland 0 
			 France 7 
			 Germany 3 
			 Gibraltar* 2 
			 Greece 1 
			 Hungary 0 
			 Ireland 17 
			 Italy 2 
			 Latvia 0 
			 Lithuania 4 
			 Luxembourg 0 
			 Malta 0 
			 Netherlands 17 
			 Poland 5 
			 Portugal 1 
			 Romania 3 
			 Slovakia 1 
			 Slovenia 0 
			 Spain 14 
			 Sweden 1 
			 Grand total 86

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) people and (b) UK nationals were extradited from the UK under a European arrest warrant in 2011-12; and to which EU member states they were extradited.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 June 2012
	During the business year 2011-12, 922 people were surrendered by the UK to other EU member states. Of these, 32 were known to be UK nationals. The following tables breaks these figures down by country.
	
		
			 (a) Number of people extradited from the UK under a European arrest warrant in 2011-12 and the EU member states they were extradited to 
			 Country Number 
			 Austria 1 
			 Belgium 13 
			 Bulgaria 5 
			 Cyprus 3 
			 Czech Republic 65 
			 Denmark 0 
			 Estonia 0 
			 Finland 2 
			 France 12 
			 Germany 20 
			 Gibraltar 0 
			 Greece 1 
			 Hungary 25 
			 Ireland 30 
			 Italy 7 
			 Latvia 41 
			 Lithuania 89 
			 Luxembourg 1 
			 Malta 4 
			 Netherlands 12 
			 Poland 514 
			 Portugal 4 
			 Romania 35 
			 Slovakia 21 
			 Slovenia 0 
			 Spain 10 
			 Sweden 7 
			 Grand total 922 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Number of British Citizens extradited under a European arrest warrant in 2011-12 and the EU member states they were extradited to 
			 Country Number 
			 Belgium 1 
			 Cyprus 2 
			 France 5 
			 Germany 3 
			 Greece 1 
			 Ireland 8 
			 Malta 1 
			 Netherlands 6 
			 Spain 5 
			 Grand total 32

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for the surrender of an individual under a European arrest warrant were received by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2011-12.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 June 2012
	During the business year 2011-12, the Serious Organised Crime Agency received 5,832 European arrest warrants issued by EU member states—this figure includes four issued by Gibraltar. The following table breaks this figure down by issuing state.
	
		
			 Number of European arrest warrants received by the serious Organised Crime Agency, broken down by issuing state 
			 Country Number 
			 Austria 86 
		
	
	
		
			 Belgium 363 
			 Bulgaria 70 
			 Cyprus 11 
			 Czech Republic 216 
			 Denmark 11 
			 Estonia 4 
			 Finland 24 
			 France 323 
			 Germany 748 
			 Gibraltar 4 
			 Greece 43 
			 Hungary 195 
			 Ireland 46 
			 Italy 234 
			 Latvia 96 
			 Lithuania 242 
			 Luxembourg 10 
			 Malta 10 
			 Netherlands 345 
			 Poland 1536 
			 Portugal 62 
			 Romania 584 
			 Slovakia 124 
			 Slovenia 24 
			 Spain 323 
		
	
	
		
			 Sweden 98 
			 Total 5,832

Asylum

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency legacy cases were completed in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: As reported to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 3 May 2012, the Case Assurance and Audit Unit concluded the asylum legacy cases of 12,600 people in the preceding 12 months.
	Prior to April 2011 legacy asylum cases were concluded by the Case Resolution Directorate. Annual conclusion figures are not recorded.

Driving Under Influence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been convicted for (a) drink driving and (b) driving under the influence of illegal drugs in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for ‘driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs’ in England and Wales from 2007 to 2011 can be viewed in the following table:
	
		
			 Defendants found guilty at all courts for ‘driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs’, England and Wales, 2007-2011(1,2,3) 
			 Statute Offence 2007 2008(4) 2009 2010 2011 
			 Road Traffic Act 1988 s.4(2), s.5(1)(a), s.5(1)(b), s.6(4) Driving/attempting or being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit to drive through drink. Driving or attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit. Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test. 71,799 64,357 61,437 52,069 48,883 
			 Road Traffic Act 1988 s.4(1), s.4(2) Being in charge of/driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit to drive through drugs. 327 137 34 34 69 
			 Road Traffic Act 1988 s.4(1), s.4(2) Being in charge of/driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit to drive through drink or drugs. 833 1,109 1,210 1,166 1,209 
			 (1)The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Note, since 2008, that figures for defendants found guilty of being “unfit to drive through drink or drugs” under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.4(1) have included more cases previously recorded under the separate drink or drugs categories. This is due to changes in the recording of management information from court records. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Drugs: Misuse

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK's recent signing of a declaration on drug policy with Russia, Sweden, Italy and the US signals a change in UK drugs policy on HIV-related harm reduction; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The recent signing of a declaration on drug policy with Russia, Sweden, Italy and the US does not signal a change in UK drugs policy.

Heathrow Airport: Official Visits

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have arrived or departed from the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport.

Damian Green: Details of travel arrangements for Home Office Ministers are not released for security reasons.

Illegal Immigrants

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency overstayers her Department estimates are in the UK.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not hold the information requested. It is not possible to estimate accurately the number of overstayers in the UK as some deliberately evade immigration control in order to remain in the country illegally.
	The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on individuals arriving or exiting the country, and is on schedule to be screening 95% of all passengers by December 2014. The Government is committed to ensuring that the number of UK ports undertaking exit checks is increased so that travel histories are recorded for an increasing number of passengers.
	The UK Border Agency has established local immigration teams across the UK to gather intelligence, tackle illegal working, and track down and detain immigration offenders. The focus of those teams includes the prevention and disruption of illegal activity and the arrest and removal of offenders.

Immigration

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained for further questioning by the UK Border Agency at UK borders on 10 May (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Damian Green: The data requested is not published by the Home Office. However, data on the number of those who are refused entry is published quarterly.
	For Quarter 2 (April to June 2011) there were 4,237 refusals. The statistics for Quarter 2 of 2012 are planned to be published in August 2012. These can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Immigration

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the UK Border Agency applications that were refused a right to remain, what proportion her Department estimates left the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The Home Office publishes immigration statistics on a quarterly and annual basis, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House. The latest published statistics on asylum and non-asylum removals can also be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q1-2012/
	The data requested is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports.

Immigration Controls

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 77W, on immigration controls, which airport terminals are equipped with e-Gate technology; and how many additional terminals will be so equipped before the end of 2012.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 June 2012
	There are currently 63 e-Gates at 15 of the UK's major air terminals: Birmingham Terminal 1, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick North and South, Heathrow Terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5, Luton, Manchester Terminals 1 and 2, and Stansted.
	There are currently no delivery projects under way to equip additional terminals with e-Gates before the end of 2012.

Immigration Controls

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to control immigration.

Damian Green: holding answer 19 June 2012
	Since 2010, we have reviewed all immigration routes to the UK and have put policies in place which will control abuse, ensure that the system is more efficient, and reduce numbers of non-EEA migrants to sustainable levels. As a result of these policies we anticipate that net migration will be in the tens of thousands by 2015.
	Specifically, we have limited the numbers of non-EEA economic migrants and raised the minimum skills levels that they need to access jobs in the UK.
	We have imposed tight controls on colleges and international students to ensure that they are genuine.
	At the same time we have introduced a new route for students who have developed world class innovative ideas and want to stay to develop their business in Britain.
	To attract the brightest and best to the UK, we have introduced a route for those of exceptional talent.
	We have tightened access to settlement in the UK so as to break the link between temporary work and staying here permanently.
	More recently, we announced important changes to reform the family route to ensure that family relationships are genuine, that migrants can integrate into British society and can support themselves financially. And our reforms will ensure that criminals cannot avoid deportation by claiming a right to family life.
	These reforms have been underpinned by evidence and analysis produced by the independent Migration Advisory Committee.
	We now have a selective migration system which controls who can come to, and stay, in the UK, for the benefit of Britain, not just for the benefit of migrants. It ensures that the brightest and best migrants can come, tackles abuse and as a result will reduce net migration and restore confidence in the immigration system.

Industrial Disputes

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which staff of other Government Departments and from other sections of her Department were recruited to fill the posts left vacant by staff in her Department who were on strike on 10 May 2012.

Damian Green: No staff were recruited for this work. The contingency pool is composed of Home Office staff (Home Office HQ, UK Border Agency, Border Force and Identity and Passport Service). Additional support was provided by the Ministry of Defence Police, Serious Organised Crime Agency and police officers currently seconded to the UK Border Agency.
	In Home Office HQ, the Identity and Passport Service, the Criminal Records Bureau and in areas of UK Border Agency work not covered by the centrally co-ordinated re-deployment exercise managers made local arrangements where necessary to ensure that the essential work of the Department continued. Details of these local arrangements are not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Disputes

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was of providing cover for staff in her Department who were on strike on 10 May 2012.

Damian Green: Staff at various grades were employed to cover the work of junior immigration grades in the industrial action on 10 May 2012. These staff, apart from Ministry of Defence staff, were already employed by the Home Office so there was no additional salary cost.
	In addition staff who were on strike had their pay deducted accordingly.

Offences against Children: British Nationals Abroad

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have investigated allegations of child sexual abuse overseas by British sex offenders in the last five years.

Nick Herbert: This information is not held centrally.

Offences against Children: British Nationals Abroad

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has any plans to increase the resources to police forces to undertake international investigations into child sexual abuse by Britons abroad.

Nick Herbert: Police funding is allocated to each police authority via the Police Allocation Formula (PAF). It is a matter for individual police authorities/police and crime commissioners to determine how the funding is allocated to priorities in their local area.

Offences against Children: British Nationals Abroad

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to allow police forces to share good practice in the investigation of child sexual abuse abroad by British sex offenders.

Nick Herbert: UK law enforcement agencies work closely with their counterparts in other countries, predominately through Interpol. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to tackling offenders who cross geographical borders and plays a key role in sharing relevant information to ensure child sexual abuse perpetrated by British offenders is investigated as appropriate.
	The UK is a dedicated member of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), which brings together law enforcement agencies including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Europol, UAE Ministry of Interior and Interpol. The VGT delivers innovative crime prevention and crime reduction initiatives to deter and prevent individuals from committing child abuse, across the world.
	Joint working through such relationships enables law enforcement agencies to share information with countries in respect of British offenders who may seek to travel to abuse or exploit children.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) highest, (b) median, (c) median full-time equivalent and (d) lowest full-time equivalent salary was paid by (i) her Department and (ii) its associated public bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13.

Damian Green: The table provides figures for the highest, median full-time equivalent and lowest full-time equivalent salaries paid in the Home Office and the Executive agencies (the United Kingdom Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service, Criminal Records Bureau and, additionally in 2011-12, the National Fraud Authority) and Home Office non-departmental public bodies. The figures are in line with Cabinet Office guidance on calculating Hutton review pay multiples.
	Banded amounts are provided to ensure a level of anonymity consistent with other published data on salaries.
	We have not supplied figures for the median, as this information is not in line with the Hutton Review of Fair Pay Guidance and to provide these figures would incur disproportionate costs. We are also unable to provide figures for 2012-13 as this information is not yet available.
	
		
			 2010-11: Total remuneration includes consolidated basic pay and pay-related allowances 
			  Highest salary band (£000) Median full-time equivalent salary (£) Lowest full-time equivalent salary (£) 
			 Home Office and its agencies 210-215 27,723 (1)14,059 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority 120-125 26,348 13,685 
			 Office of the Immigration Commissioner 85-90 30,989 20,329 
			 Security Industry Authority 155-160 31,793 15,806 
		
	
	
		
			 The Equality and Human Rights Commission 155-160 32,595 15,000 
			 Independent Police Complaints Commission 130-135 32,217 19,100 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 180-185 38,141 17,689 
			 National Police Improvement Agency 165-170 33,020 15,800 
			 (1) Excludes employees who appear to have a lower salary because of a period of half pay or nil pay during 2010-11, due to sickness absence. 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12: Total remuneration includes consolidated basic pay and pay-related allowances 
			  Highest salary band (£000) Median full-time equivalent salary (£) Lowest full-time equivalent salary (£) 
			 Home Office and its agencies 210-215 28,773 14,330 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority 120-125 26,348 14,035 
			 Office of the immigration Commissioner 70-75 30,989 20,329 
			 Security Industry Authority 155-160 33,020 15,993 
			 The Equality and Human Rights Commission 125-130 32,595 15,500 
			 Independent Police Complaints Commission 130-135 32,016 19,100 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 150-155 37,741 17,689 
			 National Police Improvement Agency 175-180 32,982 16,050

Police

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether she is taking steps to reduce the number of police vehicles attending incidents containing only one officer each;
	(2)  whether her Department issues guidance to police authorities on the number of officers to be carried in each police vehicle;
	(3)  what steps her Department is taking to reduce instances of a large number of police responding to the same incident.

Nick Herbert: Decisions on the deployment of police resources are an operational matter for individual chief constables working with their police authorities/elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

Police: Employment Tribunals Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been taken to an employment tribunal by police staff in each of the last three years; and how many of these cases were determined in favour of the claimant.

Nick Herbert: This information is not held centrally by the Home Office.

Police: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with the Chief Constable of Essex Police measures to improve efficiency in the use of police helicopters through (a) reducing the number of such helicopters and (b) sharing the use of such helicopters over police authority borders; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: A new collaboratively organised National Police Air Service (NPAS) will save the police service £15 million per year by reducing the numbers of aircraft and bases while providing a more consistent air support service.
	The principle of a national service has been endorsed by all chief constables and the Government are making the Police (Collaboration: Specified Function) Order 2012 to ensure that there is a collaboration agreement in place for air support to which all police forces and policing bodies must be parties. The Order has been approved in draft by both Houses of Parliament.
	I understand that, in line with NPAS proposals, the Essex police air support unit is already shared with Kent police and contributes to the provision of police air support across Essex, Kent, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Police: Pensions

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the document entitled Police Pension Scheme and New Police Pension Scheme in England and Wales, Actuarial Review as at 31 March 2008—Valuation data and demographic assumptions, prepared by the Government Actuary's Department.

Nick Herbert: I will place a copy of Police Pension Scheme and New Police Pension Scheme in England and Wales, Actuarial Review as at 31 March 2008, Valuation data and demographic assumptions, prepared by the Government Actuary's Department, in the Library of the House.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulations her Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what estimate she has made of the saving to those affected in each case.

Damian Green: The Home Office revoked eight sets of regulations between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012. The details are set out in the table.
	These regulations were not of a kind designed to result in quantifiable savings to the public purse.
	
		
			 Regulations revoked between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012 
			 Title S.I. No. Date of coming into force of revocation 
			 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2012 2012/277 12 March 2012 
			 The Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2011 2011/790 6 April 2012 
			 The Licensing Act 2003 (Persistent Selling of Alcohol to Children) (Prescribed Form of Closure Notice) Regulations 2007 2007/1183 25 April 2012 
			 The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2011 2011/1055 6 April 2012 
			 The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2004 2004/643 22 November 2012 (The revoking statutory instrument was made on 1 May 2012. It contains transitional provisions for complaints etc. made before 22 November 2012) 
			 The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 2006/1406 22 November 2012 (The revoking statutory instrument was made on 1 May 2012) 
			 The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 2008/2866 22 November 2012 (The revoking statutory instrument was made on 1 May 2012) 
			 The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment: Metropolitan Police) Regulations 2011 2011/3028 22 November 2012 (The revoking statutory instrument was made on 1 May 2012)

Restraint Techniques: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether control and restraint against pregnant women during attempts to forcibly remove them from the UK to ensure their compliance is permitted.

Damian Green: A pregnant female cannot be removed from the UK after 28 weeks of pregnancy, unless there is specialist medical clearance.
	Control and restraint on pregnant women to assist their removal from the UK is permitted. Approval has to be provided by a director in the UK Border Agency.
	Every case of planned use of force is subject to an individual risk assessment. The risk assessment would take into account the fact that the female is pregnant.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the 
	(1)  Home Department what correspondence (a) she, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have had with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK; and if she will place such correspondence in the Library;
	(2)  what correspondence (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK;

Damian Green: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The Home Office has had no such correspondence on the consequences of Scotland leaving the United Kingdom.

CABINET OFFICE

Community Development

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding the (a) Community First and (b) Community Organisers programmes received from (i) his Department and (ii) the Big Lottery Fund in 2011-12; how much will they receive in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: As the National Partner for Community First, Community Development Foundation received £13,274,661 in the financial year 2011-12. The budget allocation for the 2012-13 year is £24,278,000, including the budget for match funding.
	As the National Partner for the Community Organisers programme, Locality received £4,207,676 in the financial year 2011-12. The budget allocation for the 2012-13 year is £6,061,065.
	The Community First and Community Organisers programmes have not received any funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Deaths

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many child deaths due to malnutrition there have been in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) gender group in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many maternal deaths there have been in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) age group in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many deaths caused by cancer there have been in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) age group in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking:
	;
	; and
	.
	ONS does not routinely publish mortality statistics by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC), so figures for malnutrition deaths and maternal deaths by NS-SEC are not readily available. However figures for deaths from cancer for males in 2001-03 were published in an article in Health Statistics Quarterly 38, which is available on the ONS website:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/hsq/health-statistics-quarterly/no--38--summer-2008/index.html
	Comparable figures for female cancer deaths were published in Health Statistics Quarterly 44:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/hsq/health-statistics-quarterly/no--44--winter-2009/index.html
	Information on the ethnicity of the deceased is not collected at death registration, so it is not possible to provide mortality statistics broken down by ethnic group.
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths of children aged under 16 years where (a) the underlying cause was malnutrition and (b) malnutrition or effects of hunger were mentioned on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor, by sex, in England and Wales between 2001 and 2010 (the latest year available).
	Mortality data is coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10). There are a wide range of conditions that are coded as malnutrition under ICD 10 rules. In addition, children who die and have malnutrition recorded on their death certificate may have a serious underlying condition, such as cystic fibrosis. Such conditions can affect the child's ability to digest and absorb food, leading to malnutrition. In these cases, malnutrition will be recorded on the death certificate as a condition that has contributed to the death, but it will not be the underlying cause. Therefore two sets of figures have been provided: the first showing deaths where one of these conditions was the underlying cause of death, and the second where the condition was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor.
	Table 2 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was related to pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, by five-year age group, for England and Wales between 2001 and 2010 (the latest year available).
	Until recently, the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) carried our maternal and perinatal mortality surveillance, commissioned by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). The ‘Saving Mothers Lives’ reports look at both (a) direct maternal deaths (conditions that could only occur in relation to pregnancy) and (b) indirect maternal deaths (with an underlying medical of psychiatric cause aggravated by pregnancy). The figures provided in this answer differ from those in the CMACE report, due to differences in the definitions used. Although the CMACE project has now ended, the last report for deaths in 2006-2008 is available to download from the following link:
	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02847.x/abstract
	Table 3 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was malignant neoplasms (cancer), by five-year age group, for England and Wales between 2001 and 2010 (the latest year available).
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually and are available here:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths related to malnutrition, children under 16 years, England and Wales, 2001-10(1,2) 
			 Deaths (children under 16) 
			  Underlying cause Any mention 
			  Boys Girls Boys Girls 
			 2001 1 0 1 3 
			 2002 0 1 1 1 
			 2003 1 0 2 0 
			 2004 1 0 2 1 
			 2005 0 0 0 1 
			 2006 0 2 1 2 
			 2007 1 1 1 3 
			 2008 0 1 1 3 
			 2009 1 0 1 2 
			 2010 0 1 0 2 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where malnutrition was (a) the underlying cause of death: ICD 10 codes E40-E46 (malnutrition), or (b) mentioned anywhere on the death certificate—either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor: ICD 10 codes E40-E46 (malnutrition) or T73.0 (Effects of hunger). Figures for underlying cause and any mention should not be combined to produce an overall total, as data showing any mention already includes the underlying cause data. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and include deaths of non-residents. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2. Number of maternal deaths, by age group, England and Wales, 2001-10(1,2) 
			 Deaths (females) 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 <1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 01-04 0 0 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0 
			 05-09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 10-14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 15-19 3 3 0 1 3 5 3 3 5 2 
			 20-24 5 3 4 5 4 5 5 8 9 3 
			 25-29 9 12 12 3 10 9 7 8 13 12 
			 30-34 16 12 17 21 14 11 11 8 13 12 
			 35-39 9 2 8 13 9 8 12 11 15 3 
			 40-44 3 4 2 5 6 2 8 4 5 3 
			 45-49 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 
			 50-54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 55-59 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 60-64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 65-69 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 70-74 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 75-79 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 80-84 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 85+ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes O00 to O95 and O98 to O99 (Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium—excluding deaths occurring more than 42 days after deliver). (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and include deaths of non-residents. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3. Number of deaths where the underlying cause was cancer, by age group, England and Wales 2001-10(1,2) 
			 Deaths 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 <1 10 8 10 12 9 11 16 4 10 15 
			 01-04 72 82 77 65 61 79 67 62 57 64 
			 05-09 91 95 87 86 83 70 80 84 70 71 
			 10-14 98 108 109 89 83 99 85 56 74 78 
			 15-19 129 151 150 143 118 135 139 100 123 125 
			 20-24 166 156 172 188 171 158 179 165 168 138 
			 25-29 269 240 228 238 214 245 260 261 227 256 
			 30-34 576 533 512 485 436 462 409 408 396 396 
			 35-39 1,028 975 916 938 917 918 881 859 779 789 
			 40-44 1,634 1,671 1,695 1,668 1,688 1,674 1,726 1,645 1,645 1,574 
			 45-49 2,928 2,956 2,887 2,803 2,823 2,815 2,839 2,865 2,790 2,817 
			 50-54 5,951 5,454 5,158 4,974 4,756 4,709 4,668 4,628 4,554 4,658 
			 55-59 8,398 8,873 8,927 8,798 8,965 8,914 8,405 7,850 7,725 7,512 
			 60-64 11,448 11,514 11,417 11,401 11,509 11,969 12,637 12,988 12,971 12,769 
			 65-69 15,403 15,598 15,346 15,513 15,355 15,277 15,286 15,363 15,374 15,416 
			 70-74 21,042 20,743 20,159 19,697 19,418 18,834 18,822 19,265 19,348 19,362 
			 75-79 24,561 24,219 23,613 23,354 22,988 23,060 22,701 22,633 22,177 22,092 
			 80-84 20,398 21,355 22,769 22,980 22,734 22,453 22,549 22,497 22,364 22,555 
			 85+ 22,032 22,320 21,798 21,441 22,566 23,753 25,055 26,098 26,568 27,577 
			 (1) Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00 to C97 (Malignant Neoplasms) (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and include deaths of non-residents.

Electronic Warfare

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to provide information to the public on the threat to national security posed by electromagnetic pulses.

Francis Maude: holding answer 18 June 2012
	I refer my hon. Friend to the Government's reply to the House of Commons Defence Committee, and to the evidence given by Government Ministers and officials to the Committee, during its inquiry into “Developing Threats: Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP)” (HC1552).
	As called for in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, a National Space Security Policy (NSSP), to coherently address all aspects of space security, will be published later this year.

Empty Property: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the amount of available office space in empty Government buildings in (a) Birmingham, Ladywood constituency and (b) the Birmingham City Council area; and what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and local authorities on making this space available to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs.

Francis Maude: There is currently 12,811 square metres of vacant space in 15 buildings occupied by central Government Departments and their agencies in the Birmingham City council area, of which 8,263 square metres is in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency. Some has been vacant since 2006.
	The Cabinet Office has worked with other Government Departments to make 1,965 square metres of this space available to business start-ups and an additional 1,477 square metres is under offer to prospective tenants. The rest of the space either:
	has short unexpired lease term—2,253 square metres
	is a very small part of a larger building—626 square metres
	is earmarked for re-occupation by other government departments, disposal, marketing or handback—4,694 square metres
	requires substantial investment to bring it up to the standard of a useable office or conversion into an office—1,796 square metres

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2012, Official Report, column 1057W, on Government Departments: pay, for what reason the chief executive of the Student Loans Company was not included in the 2011 data release; whether all people paid off payroll will be included in the 2012 list; when he expects to publish the 2012 list; what policy guidance has been given to Departments in relation to publishing high pay; whether Departments are required to include payments to individuals paid off payroll in their list; and whether the 2012 list will include non-maintained schools and the NHS.

Francis Maude: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The 2010 and 2011 lists included all employees on-payroll working in central Government Departments and their agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
	The 2012 list will be published on the same basis later this summer and guidance to parent Departments will be provided accordingly.
	The Government is committed to tackling all forms of tax avoidance. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury recently undertook and published a review:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/tax_pay_appointees_review.htm
	which introduced a number of measures to ensure that public sector employers are able to assure themselves that the staff they engage are meeting their tax obligations. At the same time, Departments published on their own websites (linked to data.gov.uk) information on the individuals that they engage off-payroll (as at 31 January 2012) where the annual cost was £58,200 or more.

Infrastructure

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much he has allocated for the Transforming Local Infrastructure Programme; how much the Big Lottery Fund has set aside for similar programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 24 May 2012
	The Transforming Local Infrastructure programme has invested £30 million in 74 local infrastructure partnerships across England. Following the announcement:
	http://bigblog.org.uk/2012/02/02/government-invests-30-million-to-modernise-local-charity-support-services
	I wrote to Members to highlight this investment and partnerships which had received funding.
	Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is planning additional investment for voluntary organisations.

Leonard Cheshire Disability

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he last had discussions with Leonard Cheshire Disability on (a) capital investment programmes and (b) outstanding disputes with suppliers and sub-contractors.

Francis Maude: holding answer 18 June 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 June 2012, Official Report, column 582W.

Mutual Societies

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff who will transfer from his Department, its non-departmental public bodies and executive agency's workforce to a mutual in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: This Government are committed to giving public sector workers the right to deliver public services as mutuals and has put in place a mutuals information service and a mutuals support programme. The Government's commitment to mutualisation is relatively new, and the process of spinning out takes time. During the last financial year MyCSP and its workforce spun out from central Government. Spinning out is largely a staff led process so we have made no estimate of the number of staff who will transfer in the future.

Public Services

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Government Departments have implemented the proposal in his Department's Open Public Services White Paper that important data about public services, user satisfaction and the performance of all providers from all sectors is available to the public; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: holding answer 18 June 2012
	In correspondence to Cabinet colleagues the Prime Minister set out a number of transparency commitments for each Department to follow. The strong delivery against those commitments has ensured a wide ranging publication of data, resulting in greater accountability of government and better public service information for citizens.
	Work on the agenda continues at pace and each Government Department will soon publish an Open Data Strategy which will outline unique departmental data releases over the next two years. Within each strategy Departments will also detail what data they will be releasing that relate to user experience and customer feedback about services they or their arm's length bodies provide.

Recruitment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 489W, on recruitment, to what extent his Department and its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year;
	(2)  to what extent 10 Downing street used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year.

Francis Maude: Recruitment processes differ between Civil Service Departments and it is not mandated that Departments use the Civil Service e-recruitment system. Neither No 10 Downing street nor the Cabinet Office (or any of its non-departmental public bodies) currently use the Civil Service Resourcing (CSR) e-recruitment system to recruit their staff. We are currently considering whether and when to adopt the full Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system.

Self-employed: Ayrshire

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people are registered as self-employed in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people are registered as self-employed in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. (112937)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	In the period October 2010 to September 2011 the number of people who were self-employed in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency, from the APS, was 5,000 (figure rounded to the nearest thousand).
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Coryton Oil Refinery

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Energy of 11 June 2012, on Coryton Refinery, on what date administrators made representations to the Government regarding possible state aid.

Charles Hendry: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The administrators of Coryton Oil Refinery made a formal representation to the Department on 15 May 2012 in respect of the provision of government assistance for one option relating to Coryton Oil Refinery. We understand that this was one of a range options the administrators were considering at the time. These representations are necessarily commercially confidential.

Energy: Prices

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of 11 April 2012 on energy bills, when he plans to make an assessment of the effect of commitments by energy suppliers to help their customers identify best tariff options.

Charles Hendry: DECC is discussing the details of the implementation of the agreement that the Deputy Prime Minister reached with energy suppliers, including how best to measure the impact of the commitments.

Energy: Prices

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  with reference to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of 11 April on energy bills, whether the annual communication from energy suppliers to help their customers identify the new best tariff options will quote pounds saved depending on payment method and tariff based on the customer's actual usage over a 12-month period where appropriate;
	(2)  whether the second communication each year from energy suppliers for the most vulnerable customers assisted by the Warm Home Discount helping them on to the best tariff for them will quote pounds saved depending on payment method and tariff based on the customer's actual usage over a 12-month period where appropriate.

Charles Hendry: DECC is discussing the details of the implementation of the agreement that the Deputy Prime Minister reached with energy suppliers. The agreement does not specify the detail of the agreed annual communication to help customers identify the best tariff option for them. Ofgem are also considering a number of proposals relating to information on energy bills as part of their retail market reforms.

Energy: Prices

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of 11 April 2012 on energy bills, whether he has agreed a definition with energy suppliers of what constitutes a best tariff.

Charles Hendry: DECC is discussing the details of the implementation of the agreement that the Deputy Prime Minister reached with energy suppliers. The use of the term ‘best tariff’ rather than cheapest tariff recognises that while wanting the best possible deal, consumers may have different preferences, (for example around payment method, fixed, variable or capped rate or green tariffs) which may mean their preferred tariff is not the cheapest.

Energy: Prices

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of 11 April 2012 on energy bills, when he will make an assessment of energy suppliers' implementation of commitments to help customers identify the best tariff options.

Charles Hendry: DECC is discussing the details of the implementation of the agreement that the Deputy Prime Minister reached with energy suppliers, including the agreements relating to helping customers identify best tariff options.

Fuel Poverty

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce levels of fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: The Warm Front scheme provides low income vulnerable households, living in energy inefficient properties, with a range of energy efficient heating and insulation measures, helping some of the most vulnerable households to have a warmer, healthier and more energy efficient home. The scheme is a key part of our policies aimed at tackling fuel poverty and has assisted over 2.3 million vulnerable households, across England, since its inception in June 2000. Warm Front remains open to new applications and has a budget of £100 million for 2012-13.
	Through the Warm Home Discount scheme, worth £1.1 billion between 2011 and 2015, we expect to assist 2 million low income vulnerable households per year. In 2011-12 this included well over 660,000 of the poorest pensioners who received a Core Group discount of £120. In 2012-13 this will increase to around 1 million pensioners who will receive a Core Group discount of £130 mostly without having to claim, a significant benefit for a group which may struggle to claim. Suppliers are also required to assist other groups of low income and vulnerable households.
	We recently published the consultation response regarding the new Green Deal and energy company obligation (ECO), which will be our flagship policy for improving the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock. Due to launch in October 2012, ECO will run alongside the Green Deal and will have twin objectives to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. ECO requires energy suppliers to help households access more expensive insulation measures such as solid wall and hard to treat cavity wall insulation through the Green Deal and to provide measures to low income and vulnerable households to help reduce the costs of staying warm and healthy. Through ECO around £540 million will be spent annually by suppliers to assist low income households and low income areas.

Fuel Poverty: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of fuel poverty in Brighton, Kemptown constituency.

Gregory Barker: The coalition Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and supporting vulnerable consumers to heat their homes at an affordable cost.
	We continue to fund the Warm Front scheme, providing low income vulnerable households, living in energy inefficient properties, with a range of energy efficient heating and insulation measures. Since 2005, Warm Front has assisted 2,041 households in the Brighton, Kemptown constituency(1). Since the start of the scheme in June 2000 the scheme has assisted 2.3 million households across England.
	In winter 2011-12, the warm home discount scheme provided energy supplier funded discounts to well over 660,000 of the poorest pensioners across Great Britain with a Core Group discount of £120 off their electricity bills. Nearly 600,000 of these customers will have received the discount without having to claim as a result of data matching between Government and energy suppliers. This is a significant benefit for a group which may struggle to claim. Other low income vulnerable households may also be assisted through the scheme. Overall we expect 2 million low income vulnerable households a year to be assisted through the warm home discount scheme.
	In addition, the Government provides pensioner households with winter fuel payments to help with additional heating costs during the winter. Cold weather payments are also made to low income and vulnerable households where there is an average temperature of 0°C or below for seven consecutive days. These payments have been permanently increased to £25 per week and in winter 2011-12 over 5 million cold weather payments were paid in Great Britain worth an estimated £129 million.
	(1) This information is only available post 2005.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which energy companies have indicated to him that they will be part of the Green Deal charge mechanism by (a) October 2012 and (b) January 2013.

Gregory Barker: All licensed electricity suppliers, regardless of their market share, will be obliged to establish, by 1 October 2012, a central charge database to facilitate the collection and remittance of Green Deal payments.
	All electricity suppliers with more than 250,000 customers will be obliged to validate Green Deal plans from 14 January 2013 in advance of plans being signed from 28 January 2013, and collect and remit Green Deal payments from 1 March 2013. Electricity suppliers with less than 250,000 customers can choose to take part in the Green Deal charge mechanism by acceding to the Green Deal Arrangements Agreement (GDAA). The drafting of this agreement is currently being finalised and the GDAA will come into operation in due course. Smaller electricity suppliers will only be in a position to indicate whether they will take part in the Green Deal charge mechanism when this agreement is finalised.

Renewable Energy

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the likely cost of producing a unit of each form of renewable energy in (a) 2012, (b) 2015 and (b) 2020.

Charles Hendry: DECC has published information related to capital costs and installation costs of various renewable electricity generation technologies—a report by Arup for DECC on the generation costs and deployment potential of renewable technologies in the UK:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/ro-banding/3237-cons-ro-banding-arup-report.pdf
	and the renewables obligation (RO) banding review consultation document, which can be downloaded from our website at
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
	DECC has updated estimates for the underlying costs of solar PV as part of the Government response to Phase 2A comprehensive review of feed in tariffs, which can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/renewable-energy/5381-solar-pv-cost-update.pdf
	The following table replicates information that can be found in the above reports(1), and shows central estimates for selected technologies for projects starting in 2011(2) and 2017 using a 10% discount rate.
	Further estimates for other technologies can be found in the cited reports.
	(1) Please note that while the update of solar PV report did not include levelised cost calculations, the underlying published data has been used to calculated a solar PV levelised cost presented in the above table.
	(2) Please note “project start” indicates the start of pre-development work (including consent) for the project prior to final investment decision and commissioning.
	
		
			 Table 1: Central levelised cost estimates for selected electricity generation technologies 
			  Projects starting in 2011, £/MWh Projects starting in 2017, £/MWh 
			 Onshore Wind 5 MW > 90 88 
			 Offshore R2 Wind 123 106 
		
	
	
		
			 Dedicated Biomass >50MW 145 143 
			 Solar PV<4kW (1)318 242 
			 Solar PV250-5000kW (1)166 128 
			 (1) The Solar PV figure is for projects starting in 2012 Note: Please note all data is in £2010 prices. Source: Arup/EY (2011), PB (2012). 
		
	
	It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU emissions trading scheme allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, discount rate and other drivers and this means that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates. It is perhaps more appropriate to consider a range of cost estimates as pipeline projects show a large range around these central values (set out in more detail in the above reports).
	Updated levelised costs for renewable electricity will be published in the Government response to the RO banding review consultation.
	The cost of renewable heat is sensitive to many variables. The load factor, building type, size, geology and counterfactual fuel type all impact on the cost. A full account of DECC’s data can be found in the NERA/AEA report at this link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/rhi/1_20100129161148_e_@@_designoftherenewableheat incentivenerareport.pdf
	The table in Annex A outlines the levelised cost per MWh of heat for technologies expected to be installed under Phase I of the renewable heat incentive (RHI). The total resource cost is the additional price paid by society for each unit of renewable heat. DECC is currently updating cost estimates for renewable heat, which are expected to be published in autumn.
	Central estimates of the £/MWh production costs for 1st generation crop-derived biofuels are given in the following table. These cost estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty, most notably assumptions around future agricultural commodity prices.
	
		
			 £/MWh central estimates of biofuel production costs, 2010 prices 
			  bioethanol biodiesel 
			 2012 75 79 
			 2015 71 77 
			 2020 65 74

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department recommends that contractors use a particular type of cavity wall insulation when undertaking work under the Warm Front scheme.

Gregory Barker: The Warm Front scheme does not recommend any particular type of cavity wall insulation. The choice of cavity wall insulation method and material is for installers based on their assessment of needs in specific dwellings. Under the scheme, all cavity wall installations must be carried out in accordance with the standards set under the British Board of Agreement or the BSI Licence.

Wind Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish the minutes of the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force meetings of 8 and 15 May 2012.

Charles Hendry: The minutes of 8 May 2012 meeting of the Cost Reduction task force will be published by the end of June 2012. There were no minutes for the meeting on the 15 May 2012, as this was not a full meeting of the task force, its purpose was to work on the outline structure and drafting of the task force report.
	Minutes of the task force meetings can be found via this link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/wind/offshore/owcrtf/meeting_docs/meetingdocs.aspx
	The Offshore Wind Cost Reduction task force launched its report on the 13 June 2012, a copy of the report can be found at:
	http://www.bwea.com/pdf/publications/Offshore_Task_Force_Report.pdf

Wind Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish the final report of the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force.

Charles Hendry: The Offshore Wind Cost Reduction task force published its report on the 13 June 2012 at RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind Conference. A copy of the report can be found at:
	http://www.bwea.com/pdf/publications/Offshore_Task_Force_Report.pdf

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the amount of time onshore and offshore wind turbines were not operational in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: Data are not available on the operational hours of onshore and offshore wind turbines and therefore it is not possible to estimate the time that the turbines were not in operation in the last 12 months. Provisional estimates of load factors for onshore and offshore wind in 2011 are 27.4% and 36.7% respectively.
	The Government's main mechanism for incentivising large-scale renewable electricity is the renewables obligation (RO) which provides support for eligible generation. Generators receive renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) for every megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable electricity they generate. Less efficient turbines will therefore receive a lower level of support.

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the promotion of wind power on the certainty of income for conventional generators.

Charles Hendry: Electricity market despatch modelling suggests that as more wind power comes on to the system, average wholesale prices will decline slightly, due to there being more low short-run marginal cost plant (i.e. wind) on the system. For example, research by Redpoint consultants for DECC in 2009(1 )examined a low renewable electricity scenario (reaching around 16% in 2020) and a high scenario (reaching around 29% in 2020). They found that average wholesale prices from 2011 to 2030 were 4% lower in the high renewable scenario than in the low. The average wholesale price that flexible conventional generators receive is likely to be higher than the overall market average as they will run more at periods of higher prices.
	The Government is taking powers to introduce a capacity market which will be able to ensure that sufficient capacity is available to meet demand. Conventional generators would receive a relatively stable capacity payment instead of just relying on uncertain and volatile prices from an energy only market. This would help to increase certainty of income for conventional generators.
	On 17 March the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced plans to publish a new gas generation strategy in the autumn of 2012 to ensure investment in this sector comes forward, alongside the required generation in low carbon technologies. This was confirmed in the Budget on 21 March. The strategy will focus on the role of gas in the electricity market, and its aim is to attract investment in gas generation by overcoming any barriers, ensure energy security, meet the UK's carbon reduction targets, and make the best use of the nation's natural resources.
	(1) Redpoint, 2009, Implementation of the EU 2020 Renewables Target in the UK Electricity Sector: RO Reform, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/energy%20mix/renewable%20energy/ renewable%20energy%20strategy/1_20090715120542_e_ @@_redpointimplementationoftheeu2020renewables targetintheukelectricitysectorroreform.pdf

Wind Power

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of wind energy infrastructure manufactured in Britain.

Charles Hendry: DECC has not carried out an assessment of the proportion of wind energy infrastructure that is manufactured in Britain.
	However, over the 2011-12 financial year industry announcements totalled £6.9 billion confirmed and planned investments in the UK renewables sector (including onshore and offshore wind) with the potential to support over 20,800 UK jobs.

Wind Power: Capital Investment

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely returns on onshore wind farm investment in each of the next five years.

Charles Hendry: The average rate of return required for investment in onshore wind farms, assumed in the analysis for the renewables obligation banding review, is 9.6%. The actual return on investment for individual wind farms will depend on many factors including their specific location, costs, the amount of and price received for the electricity they generate, and the level of subsidy.
	Our assumption is based on Arup's report which can be found on our website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/ro-banding/3237-cons-ro-banding-arup-report.pdf
	and a report by Oxera for the Committee on Climate Change which can be found at:
	http://hmccc.s3.amazonaws.com/Renewables%20Review/Oxera%20low%20carbon%20discount%20rates%20180411.pdf